Injuries to a pair of starting pitchers could shake things up for the Phillies this week.
On Sunday, it was announced that Phillies starter Chad Billingsley was placed on the disabled list with a shoulder strain, while righty pitcher David Buchanan exited Sunday’s game for Triple-A Lehigh Valley with an apparent leg injury.
It is unclear how Billingsley’s void in the starting rotation will be filled when his turn comes up on Wednesday. Likely candidates include Severino Gonzalez, who is slated to pitch Wednesday for Lehigh Valley, or lefty Adam Morgan, who is on schedule to pitch for the IronPigs on Tuesday.
Gonzalez has made two big league starts this season, going 1-1 with a 10.57 ERA. In five outings with Lehigh Valley, the 22-year-old has posted a 1-2 record along with a 4.34 ERA. Morgan, the Phils’ third round draft choice in 2011, has tallied a 0-4 record with a 4.35 ERA in seven starts for the ‘Pigs.
In the meantime, until another move is made, righty reliever Hector Neris (2 2/3 scoreless IP with Phillies; 1-3 record, one save, 5.94 ERA in 13 relief appearances with Lehigh Valley) was recalled for the big league club’s bullpen.
Buchanan’s injury, during the third inning of Sunday’s IronPigs loss at Rochester, was said to not look good, described as a “twisted leg” while attempting to field a ground ball.
With Buchanan out of action and another vacated spot due to Billingsley’s ailment on the way, it is unclear who could replace those spots in the IronPigs’ rotation. Last year’s top draft pick Aaron Nola has a 5-2 record with a 1.77 ERA in seven starts for Double-A Reading. The 21-year-old is 4-0 with a 0.96 ERA in his last four starts.
*UPDATE*-
The Phillies confirmed that Severino Gonzalez will be called up to make the start in Colorado on Wednesday.
Buchanan’s ailment was diagnosed as a severely sprained right ankle. He is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
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