Ranger Suarez won’t be ready for his first start of the season

Phillies lefty Ranger Suarez still has inflammation in his left forearm and will likely not be ready to make his first start, Rob Thomson announced earlier today.

Ranger Suarez needs rest, but there is no structural damage

Ranger Suárez will likely not be ready to begin the season. He still has inflammation in his left arm. Team sent him for an MRI yesterday. No structural damage. He’ll take a few days to rest it. At this point, it appears Matt Strahm could begin season as fifth starter.

— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) March 22, 2023

Suarez was recalled from Team Venezuela at the World Baseball Classic on March 10th and returned to Clearwater with “left forearm soreness.” The team believed it was a minor injury at first, and they still do, along with Suarez, who has said since the 10th that he hasn’t really felt any gruesome pain.

Although the pain doesn’t strike any serious worry, the team and Suarez don’t want to risk anything. The lefty received an MRI on Tuesday and plans to rest up for a few days.

Bailey Falter will most likely be slotted into Andrew Painter’s spot, and it seems now that Matt Strahm will start the season as the 5th guy in the rotation. Thomson has said on multiple occasions that the goal with Strahm is to push him to a long-relief position, and after making his first start with the Phils yesterday, it seems like Strahm will be the guy for the time being.

There’s absolutely no reason to panic. There’s no structural damage to Ranger Suarez’s arm. Bailey Falter is more than capable of throwing valuable innings, and the Phillies have many options to bring in after Strahm exits.

Keep up with all things Phillies with Opening Day in just 8 days >>