The Rangers’ Suarez was looking forward to pitching in the All-Star game, but his and the Phillies’ goals are much higher in 2024. He’s not 100 percent right now, but that’s a bigger priority than getting a few outs in Tuesday’s exhibition game.
Neither Suarez nor Zack Wheeler will make the trip to Arlington, Texas, for the All-Star Game. Suarez has been dealing with back tightness and Wheeler has been experiencing back spasms. Neither pitcher is on the disabled list, and the Phillies don’t expect them to miss any games. Both Suarez and Wheeler are scheduled to start in the Phillies’ second series since the break in Minnesota.
Wheeler played catch in the outfield Sunday morning before the Phillies’ final game of the first half against the Oakland Athletics. Both Wheeler and Suarez are scheduled to pitch during the four-day break.
“I’m not worried,” Suarez said Saturday night. “I think I’ll be OK with a few days of rest, come back for the second half of the season and be healthy for the second half and the playoffs.”
“Of course, as a pitcher, my dream is to pitch in the All-Star Game. Right now, health is the most important thing, and I think the best thing for me is to take some time off, get healthy, and contribute to the team.”
Suarez felt back pain while pitching on Friday. His sinker velocity was a career-low 90 mph and he struggled through two innings. His ERA has risen from 1.75 to 2.76 and he has had control issues in four straight innings. Suarez needs rest. He’s pitched 52 more innings than he had pitched to this point last year.
Aaron Nola will start the Phillies’ first game of the second half on Friday at Pittsburgh. Christopher Sanchez and Tyler Phillips will start Saturday and Sunday in an order to be determined, depending on how much pitching Sanchez, one of the Phillies’ MLB-record-tying eight All-Star selections, does in the All-Star Game.
Wheeler, Suarez and Nola will then play in the Minnesota series.
Taijuan Walker (blister) is also nearing the next stage of his rehab. He threw a bullpen session on Saturday and “felt really good,” according to Thompson. Walker is scheduled to do another bullpen session on Wednesday in Arizona, where he lives.
“Then we’ll start to move forward, I’m confident,” Thompson said.
Walker will need to make multiple starts on a rehab assignment before returning to the Phillies’ starting rotation, but he will be useful when he’s ready. The Phillies are expected to go with a six-man rotation in August and September, and Walker will be a part of that.
“I don’t know if I’m worried, but I’m always worried because to me, pitchers win games,” Thompson said of the Phillies’ starting pitching situation.
“But we’ve got some long stretches like the West Coast trip and we’ve got a 13-day stretch in September so I think there’s a way we can use a sixth starter if we need to, and I think that’s probably what we’ll do.”
