Suarez shows signs of fatigue as All-Star break approaches Originally posted on NBC Sports Philadelphia
ATLANTA — The Rangers’ Suarez has pitched nearly double the innings he did to this point last year. Is he feeling fatigued?
The Phillies won 13 of Suarez’s first 14 games through mid-June, but lost three of their next four, including a 5-1 loss to the Braves on Saturday night to tie the weekend series at 1-1.
“I think there’s probably a little bit of fatigue and I think it’s showing in all the players,” manager Rob Thomson said, “but I don’t think it’s something to be concerned about. None of the numbers are particularly spectacular.”
Suarez was just off to his worst start of the season, giving up six runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings against the lowly Marlins and striking out for the first time in his career. Then the Braves got to him early Saturday, when Jarred Kelenic smashed a double down the right-field line and scored on an Ozzie Albies single. Atlanta then took the lead, striking out Austin Riley and Matt Olson before Marcell Ozuna belted a two-run homer.
Suarez got out seven straight batters after Ozuna’s home run, then got out of a jam in the fourth inning with two runners in scoring position and no outs, striking out Sean Murphy and Adam Duvall and then delivering a popup to end the inning.
But Albies did more damage in the fifth inning, smashing a two-run homer to left field after Kelenic’s single. The Braves second baseman is now 5-for-8 with two homers, four RBIs and five runs scored in the series.
Suarez has one more start scheduled before the break, at home against the Athletics on Friday, and after a great first half he’s almost guaranteed to play in the All-Star Game, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he was feeling some arm fatigue.
“No, I don’t think that’s the case,” the pitcher said. “They hit three or four bad pitches today and scored runs. I feel healthy. I think that’s what’s important right now.”
He has pitched 108 innings this season, up from 56⅓ at this point a year ago. The most innings Suarez has ever thrown is 79. It’s also important to remember that this year marked the first time in his career that he has had a full season of training.
Suarez (10-3) gave up five runs in five innings. His ERA has risen from 1.83 to 2.58 in his past two starts.
“When you’re not doing well, it’s normal to worry about your performance and that’s exactly what happened today,” Suarez said when asked about showing his frustration on the mound. “When your team loses by a lot of points, you feel beaten down and it’s hard to get back up. By keeping the game close, you don’t give the other team a chance to fight. That’s what I was thinking.”
“I’ve been playing poorly for three games in a row, so I’m starting to get a little worried. What I’m worried about in the next game is pitching position. I’m going to focus on pitching position in the next game.”
Trea Turner hit a fly ball toward the right-center field wall in the top of the first inning and then delivered a one-run single off rookie Spencer Schwellenbach in the top of the third to score the Phillies’ only runs. The All-Star shortstop is 12-for-27 (.444) with four home runs, 11 RBIs and 11 runs scored in his last six games.
The Phillies went without an extra-base hit for the fifth time this season and the first time since May 26 against Colorado. The Phillies are nine games behind the Braves with a 58-31 record heading into the series finale at 1:20 p.m. Sunday.
Rookie Michael Mercado will make just his second career start, while the Braves will turn to right-hander Reinaldo Lopez, whose 1.83 ERA would lead the league if the team met the one-inning-per-game requirement, but he’s still three innings short.
Sunday should be the final game for the Phillies without Kyle Schwarber (groin sprain), but he is expected to rejoin the team on Tuesday once he is cleared to return from injured reserve.
The Phillies will find out after the series finale how many of their pitchers and reserves were selected to the National League All-Star team, and Suarez should still make the team despite his recent poor form.
“After the last couple of games, I don’t think so,” he joked. “But whatever happens, I’ll take it. My main goal this year is to stay healthy all season. I’ve always done that, I want to stay healthy all year. I have a goal in mind.”
