Phillies Nuggets: Injury updates on Eflin, Segura, Coonrod & Maton

MIAMI — Prior to Saturday’s win over the Miami Marlins, Zach Eflin threw 59 total pitches, when you count his bullpen, warm-ups and throwing to a couple batters.

Unfortunately for the Philadelphia Phillies, Eflin’s bruised right knee didn’t respond how they had hoped it would.

“Yeah, so he came in a little sore today,” interim manager Rob Thomson said Sunday morning at loanDepot Park. “And so, we’re just gonna back off a little bit and he’ll get checked tomorrow.”

Because of the soreness, Thomson said that Eflin will be re-evaluated Monday in Philadelphia. Plans to have the 28-year-old righty throw a simulated game over the All-Star Break have been scrapped.

So is Eflin’s right knee — which has been operated on twice, including last September — in a worse place than when he initially went on the injured list on June 28?

“I don’t think it went backwards,” Thomson responded when asked. “Well, it’s not worse than it was before.”

With Eflin’s continued absence, the Phillies will have to decide whether Bailey Falter, Cristopher Sánchez or some combination will fill out their rotation after the All-Star Break. Kyle Gibson will start Friday at Citizens Bank Park against the Chicago Cubs, followed by Zack Wheeler on Saturday. After that, the Phillies haven’t decided how their rotation will line up to begin the second half.

For as much focus as there has been on making an upgrade in center field, adding another starting pitcher might very well end up being priority No. 1 for Dave Dombrowski and company in advance of the Aug. 2 trade deadline, as there’s increasing uncertainty about when Eflin will return.

“I think we’ll get him back at some point, just don’t know when,” Thomson said.

In a contract year, Eflin is 3-5 with a 4.37 ERA and 3.83 FIP across 68 innings. He and the Phillies have a mutual $15 million option for 2023.

The (Injury) Nuggets

• Jean Segura (broken right index finger) took ground balls at second base Saturday afternoon. He also did some baserunning work yesterday, and Thomson said he’s going to hit and do some throwing Sunday. Thomson said that the Phillies will re-evaluate the 32-year-old on Friday and decide how to proceed with him from there.
• Nick Maton (right shoulder sprain) continues to rehab at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. In 20 plate appearances, he has six hits and three walks.
• Sam Coonrod (right shoulder strain) has yet to pitch in 2022, but Thomson says that the plan is for the 29-year-old to go on a rehab assignment after the All-Star Break, though it’s not clear what level he’ll make it at just yet. Given that Coonrod didn’t have much of a Spring Training, his rehab stint could take some time. Still, Thomson says that the hard-throwing righty is “doing very well.”

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