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Phillies: Buchholz Situation Eerily Similar to Morton in 2016

By George Stockburger

Apr 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp (29) signals for the trainer after starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (21) is injured during the third inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp (29) signals for the trainer after starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (21) is injured during the third inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Phillies pitchers have seen some rough injuries in the last year

When Steve Carlton or Roy Halladay would pitch for the Phillies, it was known as “Win Day.” In Clay Buchholz two starts with Philadelphia, it immediately became known as “Loss Day.”

Not only would the loss come in the standings for Buchholz, but the injury he suffered this week was as well.

Buchholz removed himself from Tuesday’s game against the Mets in the third inning after feeling something in his forearm. The 32-year-old had allowed five runs through two and a-third innings prior to leaving the mound.

An MRI on Wednesday showed a tear in the flexor pronator mass, described by the Associated Press as a “collection of muscles on the anterior of the forearm used for wrist and finger flexion.”

Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies /

Philadelphia Phillies

This injury all but ensures a trip to the disabled list for Buchholz, who will visit with Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion.

Manager Pete Mackanin said any of the five starters in Triple-A Lehigh Valley are capable of replacing Buchholz. Jake Thompson and Zach Eflin are the first two options, while Nick Pivetta and Ben Lively are dark horses.

The situation with Buchholz brings back memories of Charlie Morton in 2016, who left in his fourth start after tearing his hamstring. Eflin got the call to replace the veteran, who the club acquired for a minor leaguer with the hope of trading him in July.

It’s all too familiar a situation for the Phillies, seeing a veteran they acquired in the offseason go down with a major injury early in the year.

Eflin would have made the Opening Day roster if not for Buchholz and double knee surgeries during the offseason. The 23-year-old pitched five shutout innings for the IronPigs during his rehab stint, which perfectly aligns with the Phillies starting rotation schedule.

Thompson, who made 10 appearances in the majors last year, has failed to work out of the third inning in both his starts this year. He’s allowed 15 earned runs in 4 2/3 innings of work this year.

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