The Philadelphia Phillies will start the 2025 season without All-Star left-hander Ranger Suárez, as manager Rob Thomson confirmed on Sunday that Suárez is likely to begin the year on the 15-day injured list due to a lingering back issue.
“We don’t want this thing to linger,” Thomson told MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. “So if we do officially IL him, we don’t think it’s going to be long.”
Suárez has been sidelined since March 15 and only recently resumed playing catch. Given his past struggles with back injuries—one of which derailed a potential Cy Young run last season—the Phillies are being cautious. Last year, Suárez’s performance declined significantly in the second half, with his ERA jumping from 2.76 before the All-Star break to 5.65 afterward. The team hopes that allowing him time to fully recover now will prevent a similar late-season drop-off.
By backdating Suárez’s stint on the IL and using three off-days within the first 12 days of the season, the Phillies expect him to miss just one start. If all goes well, he could return as early as April 8 against the Braves.
In his absence, the Phillies will turn to a former All-Star to step into the rotation.
Right-hander Taijuan Walker will take Suárez’s spot, looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 campaign in which he posted a 7.10 ERA over 83 2/3 innings. This spring, Walker has shown encouraging signs of improvement, adding more than three miles per hour to his four-seam fastball and refining his splitter.
“His stuff’s better, flat out,” Thomson said of Walker, who is entering the third year of his four-year, $72 million contract. Walker is set to start on April 3 against the Rockies at Citizens Bank Park.
Meanwhile, the Phillies continue to adjust their roster ahead of Opening Day. On Sunday, they claimed right-hander Carlos Hernández off waivers from the Kansas City Royals and designated Tyler Phillips for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. Hernández, whose fastball averages nearly 98 mph, is expected to serve as a long reliever.
“He’s got a great arm,” Thomson noted. “He’s pitched two innings multiple times in Spring Training. So he’s a two-inning guy.”
Despite his impressive velocity, Hernández has struggled with command, recording a 6.97 ERA in spring training and a career 11.3% walk rate.
With just one more roster decision left before heading to Philadelphia, the Phillies must choose between Kody Clemens and Buddy Kennedy for the final bench spot—both players are out of minor league options.
As for the lineup, Thomson is still considering his leadoff strategy. He may rotate hitters based on matchups, with Trea Turner leading off against lefties and Kyle Schwarber against righties.
The Phillies kick off the regular season on Thursday in Washington, where ace Zack Wheeler will take the mound against the Nationals.
Leave a Reply