Rob Thomson Injury Updates: Sanchez, Suarez, Painter, Marsh and More

Phillies manager Rob Thomson unloaded a full notebook’s worth of injury updates ahead of last night’s series opener against the Nationals.

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Rob Thomson Injury Updates

Some big updates from Rob Thomson:

Andrew Painter will throw 4/60 on Thursday with the Iron Pigs in Triple-A.

Cristopher Sanchez will start tomorrow. Walker will start Thursday.

Ranger Suarez will throw a bullpen tomorrow, that will determine if he needs 1 more rehab start. pic.twitter.com/zgo4ieMrLC

— Luke Arcaini (@ArcainiLuke) April 29, 2025

Rob Thomson: Andrew Painter is Still Cooking in Clearwater

Rob Thomson initially told reporters Painter was set to make a start for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday. Turns out, not so fast.

Painter’s staying in Clearwater, not because of a setback, but because they’re still building him up. The goal right now? Get him stretched out to 4 innings or 60 pitches, and then we’ll talk about a promotion.

Thomson said the timeline hasn’t changed — the Phillies are just taking their sweet time, and frankly, they should. No need to rush the guy they hope will headline the rotation in 2026.

Ranger Suárez: Bullpen on Deck

Ranger is set to throw a bullpen session Wednesday at CBP. This one is important. Depending on how it goes, Suárez could be back with the team as soon as this weekend.

Thomson didn’t commit to another rehab start, which tells you they’re giving him the benefit of the doubt. He’s been lights out in his rehab

Cristopher Sánchez: Healthy and Starting

Sánchez is good to go and will start Wednesday night. No limitations.

He left his last start early with forearm tightness, which sent alarm bells ringing, but all signs point to it being nothing more than precautionary.

The current rotation:

• Wednesday: Sánchez
• Thursday: Taijuan Walker
• Friday: TBD (probably Luzardo, but Thomson kept it vague)

Brandon Marsh: Not Quite Back Yet

Brandon Marsh cramped up in his hamstring Sunday during a rehab game in Lehigh Valley, and the Phillies hit pause. He worked out Tuesday and saw the team doctor pregame.

If cleared, Marsh will be heading back out on another short rehab assignment. This isn’t a new injury — it’s just the Phillies being extra careful with a guy they need in center field come May.

He hasn’t looked right at the plate yet this season (4-for-42), so the rehab stint is as much about timing as it is about health.

Injury Notes:

All in all, no doomsday vibes from Rob Thomson.

• Painter’s still on track.
• Ranger’s almost back.
• Sánchez is starting.
• Marsh is close.

The Phillies are getting healthy again — and if they can keep it that way heading into May, this team will start making real noise in the NL East.

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