Ranger Suárez looks ready to rejoin the Phillies Rotation after breezy Triple-A Rehab start

Finally, some good news on the pitching front for the Phillies. Ranger Suarez is close to returning after an impressive start last night with Lehigh Valley.

While Cristopher Sánchez exited Tuesday night’s loss to the Mets with forearm tightness and Aaron Nola continues to look like a guy who’s never thrown a baseball before, Ranger Suárez casually threw five shutout innings for Triple-A Lehigh Valley like it was a spring tune-up at Clearwater.

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Ranger Suárez was originally slated for 70-75 pitches, but he was so efficient — just 59 total (40 strikes) — that they let him cruise through five frames and called it a night. His fastball was sitting at 92, topping out at 93, and he struck out five while giving up just two hits and two walks.

Ranger Suarez: 5.0 IP | 2 H | 0 ER | 2 BB | 5 K | 59 Pitches

Ranger Suarez pitched 5 scoreless innings tonight for AAA Lehigh Valley!

5.0 IP | 2 H | 0 ER | 2 BB | 5 K | 59 Pitches pic.twitter.com/UrjEli5xa9

— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) April 23, 2025

The plan is for Suárez to make one more start on Sunday — his final rehab outing — and stretch out closer to 90 pitches. Rob Thomson confirmed postgame that nothing has changed in that plan despite the Sánchez injury scare. But let’s be real — with the bullpen being cooked, Nola looking cooked, and Walker coming off a rocky outing himself, the Phillies may need Ranger back on the big league mound yesterday.

Last year, Suárez posted a 3.46 ERA across 27 starts and was nails in the playoffs. The only thing that’s ever really held him back is his back — literally. The stiffness that delayed his start this season has popped up a few times in recent years, but right now, he looks healthy and ready to go.

Given the off days on Thursday and Monday, the Phillies could theoretically skip a rotation spot if they need to buy more time for Sánchez. But if Suárez’s next Triple-A start goes as smoothly as this one, don’t be surprised if he’s toeing the rubber at Citizens Bank Park by next Tuesday.

And honestly, it can’t come soon enough.

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