Phillies place Andrew McCutchen, Vince Velasquez on injured list

The Phillies made a few roster moves prior to Monday night’s series opener against the Washington Nationals.

Andrew McCutchen (left knee inflammation) and Vince Velasquez (right middle finger blister) have been placed on the 10-day injured list. They have also recalled Enyel De Los Santos from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and reinstated Andrew Knapp from the paternity list. McCutchen’s IL stint is retroactive to Aug. 1 while Velasquez’s is retroactive to July 31.

McCutchen left Saturday’s game after feeling some discomfort in his knee after running to first on a double play ball. He underwent an MRI on Sunday. Joe Girardi said after Sunday’s game that he anticipated getting Rhys Hoskins back in the lineup before McCutchen. Hoskins, who is dealing with a groin injury, was not included in the lineup for Monday’s game.

McCutchen underwent ACL surgery on his left knee in June 2019.

Gonna do everything in my power to get back out there ASAP. I promise

— andrew mccutchen (@TheCUTCH22) August 2, 2021

The Phillies, who are in the midst of a crucial stretch of division games that concludes with a home series against the first-place Mets, are going to miss McCutchen’s bat. Since June 1, McCutchen is slashing .271/.389/.574 with 13 home runs and 37 RBIs. He’s thrived ever since Girardi moved him away from the leadoff spot.

Velasquez is also slated to miss some time with a blister on his right middle finger. It’s unclear if Velasquez was dealing with the blister in his last two outing in which he has combined to give up 11 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. He was removed from the rotation following his last start against Pittsburgh and moved to the bullpen to take Chase Anderson’s spot as the designated long man.

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