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Phillies to get pitching staff reinforcements in coming weeks

By John Town

SARASOTA, FL- MARCH 09: Jerad Eickhoff #48 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 9, 2017 at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
SARASOTA, FL- MARCH 09: Jerad Eickhoff #48 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on March 9, 2017 at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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After missing a month of the 2018 season, several of the Phillies’ injured pitchers are eyeing a return in the coming weeks.

The Phillies started off the year with four of their expected Opening Day pitchers on the disabled list. Tommy Hunter was the first to come off last week, and Pat Neshek, Jerad Eickhoff, and Mark Leiter, Jr. are all expected to make their returns in the near future.

Both Leiter and Eickhoff threw bullpen sessions Wednesday. Leiter has been dealing with a right forearm strain since spring training. Meanwhile, Eickhoff suffered a lat strain in spring training and was projected at the time to miss six to eight weeks.

Neshek is set to throw a bullpen session Friday. He went on the disabled list after the first game of the season due to a shoulder strain that caused serious concern. Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia wrote that Neshek feels “great” after resting and rehabbing for a month. Neshek also received anti-inflammatory medication.

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Salisbury also wrote that Neshek will head to Clearwater next week to start his rehab assignment. The 37-year-old said he is targeting the third week of May for a return.

Neshek should be a welcome addition when he comes back. Last year he had a 1.59 ERA in 62.1 innings between Colorado and Philadelphia. He had a 0.866 WHIP and 11.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He represented the Phils at the All-Star Game before being traded.

Eickhoff will also soon go on a rehab assignment. General manager Matt Klentak said they are going to take it easy with Eickhoff because the rotation has been solid so far. Stephen Gross of the Morning Call says that Eickhoff will also head to Clearwater next week with a return expected in late May.

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When Eickhoff returns, it wouldn’t be surprising if Ben Lively is the odd man out. He gave up seven runs in 2.1 innings Thursday to the Diamondbacks, putting his season ERA at 6.85. Even before this start, he still had the highest ERA of anyone on the team at 4.64. Lively only really got a spot in the rotation because of Eickhoff’s injury, so he could be optioned when Eickhoff returns.

Leiter is the only one who doesn’t have a concrete timetable. Drew Hutchison made the Opening Day roster as a non-roster invitee as Leiter’s replacement. When Leiter returns, it could be Hutchison or someone else who leaves the bullpen.

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After losing these pitchers before the season ever started, it will be good to have them back soon.

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