Ranger Suarez Activated Off IL- Will Start Sunday
The Phillies bats have been better than they have all season in August. Hell, they may be better than any team in baseball right now. But the pitching has fallen off a little bit. Thankfully, reinforcements are on the way. Ranger Suarez has been activated off of the IL and will make his first start on August 13th on Sunday vs. the Brewers. Christian Pache is also coming off of the IL and could see the field at some point this weekend. Because it is September, and rosters are expanding, they do not need to take anyone off the roster to make room for The Phillies reinstated LHP Ranger Suárez from the 15-day IL (right hamstring strain) and recalled OF Cristian Pache from his rehab assignment with Lehigh Valley (AAA) and reinstated him from the 10-day IL (right elbow irritation), expanding the roster to 28 players.
The Phillies reinstated LHP Ranger Suárez from the 15-day IL (right hamstring strain) and recalled OF Cristian Pache from his rehab assignment with Lehigh Valley (AAA) and reinstated him from the 10-day IL (right elbow irritation), expanding the roster to 28 players.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 1, 2023
Ranger Suarez has quietly been one of the Phillies’ most reliable pitchers over the last few seasons. Ever since he joined the Starting Rotation, few left-handed pitchers have a lower ERA than he does. And we saw last season that he is more than capable of pitching in the postseason when he gave them the best start of any Phillie pitcher in the World Series vs. the Astros.
He hit a bit of a snag in July after giving up just 1 earned run in all of June. But he had given them three straight solid starts in August before hitting the IL. Those starts got his ERA down to 3.88. Hopefully, he will be ready to pick up where he left off.
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Pache on the other hand may not have as big of a role as the primary backup outfielder as he did before he got hurt. Johan Rojas came up in his place and played at a very high level. Not just at the plate, where he is hitting .289 with 7 steals, but more so in the field, where he has looked like a Gold Glove Centerfielder. Rojas has played well enough, that he may be a big part of the Phillies Playoff push, playing center whenever Harper plays first base, moving Marsh over to Left Field.
But Pache should still see a few starts here and there vs Lefites. And would be ideal as a late-game defensive replacement for Nick Castellanos if the Phillies are going into the 9th inning with a lead. Not many balls are going to land if the Phillies outfield is Marsh, Rojas, and Pache. We will have to wait and see if there is any spot for him on the playoff roster.
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With Ranger Suarez rejoining the rotation, we may see Christopher Sanchez move to a bullpen role. And Suarez will be 3rd guy in the Phillies rotation once they get to the playoffs. He has more than earned that role with his performance there last season.