Key Phillies Hurler Won't Be Ready For Opening Day

The Philadelphia Phillies will have to begin the season, it seems, without one of their most solid rotation pieces from last season, as inflammation in his pitching arm will keep Ranger Suárez off the mound for a bit more time.

Ranger Suárez will likely not be ready to begin the season. He still has inflammation in his left arm. Team sent him for an MRI yesterday. No structural damage. He’ll take a few days to rest it. At this point, it appears Matt Strahm could begin season as fifth starter.

— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) March 22, 2023

The good news is that an MRI showed no structural damage, but Suarez will take a few days off from throwing. 

It was only this past Sunday that Suárez had a successful throwing session, and he appeared on track to be ready for the start of the season, albeit with a limited pitch count. But that seems to have changed as the inflammation has persisted.

Suarez has been a valuable weapon for the Phillies' staff over the past two years. Since the start of the 2021 season, the 27 year old has posted a 2.72 ERA across 261.1 innings pitched. In '21, he had a spectacular 1.65 ERA over 100 innings, as both a starter and reliever. Last season, he was a full-time member of the rotation, posting a 3.65 ERA and a 10-7 mark.

His absence will open the door, it seems, for free agent signee Matt Strahm to slide into the fifth starter's spot to open the season. 

Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports