Why Ranger Suárez's injury might be a blessing in disguise for the Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies starter Ranger Suárez began the season as one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball. He might’ve arguably been the best pitcher. The southpaw was on his way to earning his first career Cy Young Award.

Suárez was named to his first All-Star game thanks to his incredible start to the season. However, he didn’t participate due to back spasms, per Tim Kelly of Phillies Nation. Suárez made a start against the Minnesota Twins on July 22 after the break, but he experienced lower back soreness a few days later before his next start. The Phillies placed Suárez on the IL on July 27.

Why Ranger Suárez's injury might be a blessing in disguise for the Phillies

Suárez was 9-0 through his first 10 starts in 2024 with a 1.36 ERA. His first loss came on May 26 against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in which he allowed four earned runs in six innings pitched.

After that, Suárez started to not look like himself on the mound. He was allowing more hits, walks and runs than usual, and he wasn’t going as deep in ball games. His command also didn’t seem on point like it was to start the season.

The season is very long. The most innings Suárez pitched in a season was 155 1/3 innings in 2022. He was already up to 119 1/3 innings this season prior to landing on the IL in late July. Fatigue might’ve been a factor in the decline of his level of play.

Everything was smooth sailing for Suárez until June 30 against the Miami Marlins. The 28-year-old allowed 10 hits and six earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, which made his ERA jump from 1.83 to 2.27. He allowed 19 combined hits and 12 earned runs in his next three starts bringing his ERA up to 2.87.

A rested Ranger Suárez will be invaluable for the Phillies down the stretch

Suárez’s stint on the IL might be what the left-handed pitcher needed to get back on track. He has had the chance to not only get healthy, but he has been able to rest for a few weeks.

"We’re going to be super cautious and give him a little rest,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said, per MLB.com. “Over the course of a full season, guys typically need some time off. I think he’ll come out of this and he’ll be stronger coming down the stretch.”

Suárez reportedly threw a two-inning simulated game the other day that went well. Thomson said that Suárez still needs to throw a live batting practice session and possibly a rehab start before returning to the Phillies starting rotation. He’s likely to return after the Phillies' upcoming homestand, according to Thomson.

The Phillies need a healthy and dominant Suárez heading into the final push of the regular season. Although he struggled as of late, he’s still 10-5 with a 2.87 ERA and 116 strikeouts on the season. Suárez has the stuff to be able to bounce back and pitch at a Cy Young level again.