Ranger Suárez throws a complete-game shutout on 97 pitches
Less than two months ago, Ranger Suárez was the linchpin of the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen and had not started a game since 2018.
In fact, prior to Saturday’s game, he had never thrown more than six innings in a game in his career.
On Saturday night, he threw a complete-game shutout on 97 pitches, known in Major League Baseball as a “Maddux,” named for the legendary Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves pitcher.
Fellow Phillies starters Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola have also thrown complete-game shutouts this season, though they both needed over 100 pitches to get the job done. Wheeler actually leads MLB in both complete games and shutouts.
...and he did it with 97 pitches.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 25, 2021
An absolute MASTERPIECE by Power Ranger! pic.twitter.com/xWIo34q0K5
Suárez has been one of the most underrated pitchers in all of baseball this year. It’s not hyperbolic to say that he has been absolutely crucial to the Phillies’ success; his teammates say the same.
After Saturday’s game, Suárez has a 1.45 ERA over 38 games, 11 of them starts. He has 98 strikeouts over 99 innings, more than double his previous season totals in both categories. Perhaps the most stunning stat is that he has only allowed 16 earned runs all season, and only four home runs.
The Phillies bullpen as a whole leads MLB with 34 blown saves, tied for the all-time single-season record set by the 2004 Colorado Rockies. That’s not Suárez’s fault, though; he’s been in the rotation since the first week of August.
Suárez’s dominance is good news for the Phillies, as the 26-year-old lefty won’t hit free agency until 2026. He’s proven that he can be a key part of this rotation going forward, which means one less starting pitcher for Dave Dombrowski’s offseason shopping list.
Phillies’ Ranger Suárez and Braves’ Max Fried throw Maddux games within the same 24 hours
Suárez wasn’t the only NL East pitcher to throw a Maddux this weekend; Max Fried of the Braves blanked the San Diego Padres on Friday night, needing only 98 pitches to get the game done.
While Fried’s prowess doesn’t help the Phillies, who are trying to stay on pace with the Braves, excellent pitching is always appreciated. Game recognizes game.