Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suárez is nearing a return from the injured list and his season debut. Suárez has made four minor league rehab starts between Low-A Clearwater and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Matt Gelb of The Athletic reported that Suárez could make one more rehab start. However, according to Gelb, Suárez is not expected to make more than one additional rehab start. Suárez has a 1-0 record with a 1.08 ERA in those four rehab outings. Furthermore, Suárez has a 1.65 FIP along with a 4.80 strikeout-to-walk rate. Suárez has a 38.1% strikeout rate and a 7.9% walk rate in those outings. Opposing batters have a .172 average and a .294 BABIP against Suárez. In addition, Suárez had a 0.90 WHIP during his rehab assignment.
Suárez is in a contract year this season. With that being said, a contract extension is unlikely to happen. Suárez could theoretically move to the bullpen when top prospect Andrew Painter arrives. However, all indications point to Suárez remaining as a starting pitcher at least for the time being. Suárez has 96 innings pitched in the major leagues out of the bullpen during the regular season. It does not make much sense for the Phillies to move Suárez to the bullpen at this moment. Tanner Banks has a minor league option, but is performing well enough. Banks has a 3.86 ERA along with a 3.00 strikeout-to-walk rate this season in 11 appearances. In addition, Banks has a 3.14 FIP with a 25.0% strikeout rate and an 8.3% walk rate this season.
Phillies Starter in Line to Return Soon
Starting Rotation and Bullpen Implications
Taijuan Walker will presumably move to the bullpen when Suárez returns. Walker has a 1-2 record with a 2.78 ERA in five starts this season. This season, Walker has a 4.02 FIP and a 2.00 strikeout-to-walk rate. The Phillies had a decision to make about Walker during spring training and opted to keep him. Walker has put together respectable outings for the most part. So far, Walker has a 20.0% strikeout rate and a 10.0% walk rate. Walker has a 1.37 WHIP this season. Meanwhile, opposing batters have a .239 average and a .288 BABIP against Walker. Relative to last season, Walker has shown improvement in most statistical categories. Walker will likely be in a long relief role in the bullpen as he was at the end of last season.
Anticipated Corresponding Move
Carlos Hernández has had a slightly longer stint with the team than anticipated, but will likely be designated as the corresponding move for assignment. Hernández has no minor league options available. This season, Hernández has a 7.20 ERA in nine outings. Hernández has a career worst 6.45 FIP as well as a 1.14 strikeout-to-walk rate this season. So far this season, Hernández has a 15.1% strikeout rate and a career-worst 13.2% walk rate. Hernández has a career worst 2.10 WHIP this year as well as a career worst 24.3%-barrel rate. It is worth noting that most of the appearances Hernández has made this season have come in low-leverage situations. Hernández has pitched nine low-leverage innings this season instead of one medium or high-leverage inning.
Main Photo Credits: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The post Phillies Starter Nearing Return To Rotation appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.