Ranger Suárez (thumb) could start Saturday against the New York Mets in London.
Manager Rob Thomson said prior to Monday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers that Suárez is scheduled to play catch on Tuesday and throw a bullpen on Wednesday. The team will determine whether or not he could make his next start on Saturday after the bullpen session.
He’ll almost certainly avoid the injured list, per Thomson. It’s fantastic news considering just how bad it could have been for the Phillies and Suárez.
Suárez was hit in the thumb with a 106.1 mph comebacker off the bat of Alec Burleson in the second inning of Saturday’s game against the Cardinals. He was lifted from the game to receive treatment and undergo examination. X-rays came back negative on Suárez. He dealt with swelling around the thumb after the game, which has improved in the last few days.
“We feel pretty lucky right now,” Thomson said Saturday night.
If Suárez cannot start, the Phillies have other options for Saturday. They could start Spencer Turnbull on Saturday and rely heavily on the bullpen with two off days before and one off day after the London Series. They could also start Zack Wheeler on normal rest or move up Taijuan Walker to Saturday and have Wheeler pitch Sunday, though that seems unlikely after Wheeler threw 114 pitches Monday against the Brewers. The Phillies could also move Walker to Saturday and have Tuesday’s starter Cristopher Sánchez pitch on normal rest Sunday.
The Phillies are hoping instead that none of these scenarios come into play.
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