The Philadelphia Phillies got a scare on Tuesday night when left-handed starting pitcher Cristopher Sánchez was removed from his start against the New York Mets after two innings. Diagnosed with left forearm soreness, it was encouraging news that Sánchez felt better and wanted to throw before Wednesday's game.
It looks like the Phillies may have dodged a major bullet, with Sánchez likely only to miss one start. But with the starting rotation already shorthanded with Ranger Suárez on the 15-day IL, Phillies manager Rob Thomson could need a spot starter to fill Sánchez's spot next time through the rotation.
3 internal options if the Phillies need to replace injured Cristopher Sánchez
While it would seem that the logical move would be to activate Suárez from the injured list instead of making a fourth rehab start, that scenario has already been ruled out, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. With Sánchez already scratched from making his next start, if the Phillies need an arm to slide in and give them innings in his absence, who can fill the void?
Joe Ross, RHP
Joe Ross is the first name that comes to mind if the Phillies need a spot starter in the short term. It makes sense for a couple of reasons. Going with Ross would negate the need for the Phillies to make a roster move, since Sánchez hasn't been placed on the IL. If the team believes that they just need one get-me-over bullpen game, Ross' previous experience as a starting pitcher (86 starts) could make him an ideal candidate.
Currently a swing man in the Phillies bullpen, Ross' ability to pitch multiple innings could make him Thomson's first choice by default. After pitching three scoreless innings and throwing 51 pitches against the Mets on Tuesday, it wouldn't be a surprise if the team trusts him with a four inning start when the Phillies play the Washington Nationals next week.
Nabil Crismatt, RHP
Nabil Crismatt could be another option if the team decides to tap into its minor league pitching depth. Currently starting games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Crismatt was recently a dark horse candidate to make the Phillies' Opening Day roster before the team settled on Taijuan Walker to fill the team's temporary need for a fifth starter.
Like Ross, Crismatt has plenty of MLB experience on the mound, having pitched in 114 games in previous stints with the St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers. In four starts for Lehigh Valley this season, Crismatt has a record of 3-1 with a 3.43 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 21 innings.
But the Phillies would need to make a roster move to add Crismatt to the 40-man roster and the active roster. With Sánchez likely only to miss one start, it might not be worth the trouble considering Crismatt would have to be designated for assignment after a MLB stint. That would negatively impact the Phillies' starting pitching depth later in the season.
Kyle Tyler, RHP
Another short-term solution could be right-hander Kyle Tyler. The Phillies claimed Tyler after he was designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins last August and added him to Lehigh Valley's starting rotation. In seven starts with the IronPigs last year, Tyler went 1-2 with a 5.82 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 34 innings. While his overall performance was certainly a mixed bag, Tyler's 15 games of MLB experience (seven starts) makes him a valuable upper minor league depth option.
In four starts with Lehigh Valley this year, Tyler's performance hasn't exactly forced the Phillies to consider calling him up. Currently sporting a pedestrian record of 1-2 with a 3.98 ERA and nine strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings of work, Tyler is clearly a break glass in case of emergency starting option for the Phillies in the event of injuries.
While the Phillies will have a short-term need with Sánchez missing his next start, Tyler remains a long shot to be that choice, despite being on the 40-man roster and having one minor league option at the team's disposal.