CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Phillies left-hander Ranger Suárez's sore back is better, but it is far from certain he will make his first scheduled start in the rotation.
It is not how Su¨¢rez wanted to finish Spring Training before he enters the biggest season of his professional career. Su¨¢rez, who will be a free agent after the season, last pitched on March 15 in an intrasquad game at the Carpenter Complex. He first felt pain in his lower back on Monday night. Su¨¢rez was scheduled to throw on Friday, but he said the team pushed his throwing session to Saturday to give him another day to rest.
¡°It¡¯s better than Monday,¡± Su¨¢rez said through the team¡¯s interpreter. ¡°I felt a little pain in that area, but I¡¯m better now.¡±
Asked if he thinks he can make his first start of the season, Su¨¢rez said: ¡°I hope so.¡±
But is it possible, even if Saturday goes well?
¡°Theoretically, yeah,¡± Phillies manager Rob Thomson said after Friday's 6-3 Grapefruit League victory over the Twins at BayCare Ballpark. ¡°We¡¯ll know a lot more tomorrow. We¡¯ll just have to see. We want to make sure we¡¯re careful with him.¡±
Before Su¨¢rez¡¯s back started to hurt, he lined up as the team¡¯s fifth starter behind Zack Wheeler, Jes¨²s Luzardo, Aaron Nola and Cristopher S¨¢nchez. It would have put Su¨¢rez in line to start on April 2 against the Rockies at Citizens Bank Park.
Thomson said the Phillies¡¯ rotation to open the season in D.C. will be Wheeler on Opening Day, then -- following a March 28 off-day -- Luzardo on March 29 and Nola on March 30. S¨¢nchez will start the home opener against the Rockies on March 31 at Citizens Bank Park. Wheeler will pitch the second game of that series on April 2.
Thomson said the Phillies are eyeing April 3 for the No. 5 spot in the rotation.
If Su¨¢rez isn¡¯t going to be ready by then, he could start the season on the 15-day injured list. The Phillies can backdate the stint to three days before Opening Day, which would make him eligible to be activated as early as April 8 in Atlanta.
¡°About taking it slow, I don¡¯t think we¡¯re going to take it that slow,¡± Su¨¢rez said. ¡°We¡¯re one week away from the season starting. At the same time, I want to take care of it as quickly as possible so I can be back out there again.¡±
If Su¨¢rez is not ready to pitch by April 3, right-hander Taijuan Walker is the expected replacement.
A back problem is always tricky, but Su¨¢rez has a history of back issues. He had a bad back in the second half last season, which derailed a Cy Young-contending season. Su¨¢rez went 10-2 with a 1.83 ERA in 16 starts through June 25. He went 2-6 with a 6.54 ERA in his final 11.
He spent almost a month on the IL during that stretch because of lower back soreness. He also went on the IL in 2022 because of a back injury.
¡°It¡¯s different from last year,¡± Su¨¢rez said. ¡°Very different from last year. I mean, it¡¯s just mild discomfort compared to last year. Last year was a bigger deal. This year, I think it¡¯s a smaller problem. I feel better already.¡±
Su¨¢rez allowed two hits and one run in five innings in his first two Grapefruit League outings. He struck out four.
His velocity was down in his first start, but it improved in his second.
¡°I was having a good Spring Training, I think,¡± Su¨¢rez said. ¡°It was pain-free. It¡¯s better to happen now than during the season. It wouldn¡¯t be ideal for any of us if this happened during the season.¡±
Strahm gears up
Left-hander Matt Strahm is scheduled to throw one inning on Saturday morning at the Carpenter Complex. If it goes well, he will pitch in Monday¡¯s Grapefruit League finale against the Rays.
If that goes well, he is expected to be on the Phillies¡¯ Opening Day roster.
Strahm has not pitched since March 5 because of inflammation and a bone bruise in his left shoulder. He is pain-free.
Painter throws live BP
Top prospect Andrew Painter threw a live batting practice session on Friday afternoon at the Carpenter Complex. It was his second live BP of the spring.
Garrett Stubbs and No. 14 prospect Bryan Rincon were among the hitters who faced Painter.
Painter will likely throw more live BPs and simulated games before he sees game action in Clearwater, which will happen after camp breaks on Monday.