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Phillies place Ranger Suárez on injured list

Ranger Suárez is going on the IL. (Cheryl Pursell)

Two-fifths of the Phillies’ starting rotation is now dealing with injuries.

Prior to Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Phillies placed left-handed pitcher Ranger Suárez on the 15-day injured list with a low back spasm. Suárez was scheduled to pitch on Tuesday against the Washington Nationals. The Phillies have not announced a corresponding move.

Zach Eflin (right knee bruise) is currently on the 15-day injured list. He received a cortisone shot for his knee on June 30.

For what it’s worth, Cristopher Sánchez threw three innings at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on June 28. He’s scheduled to pitch at 6:05 p.m. on Sunday for the IronPigs, but could be scratched from his start. Kent Emanuel, who is rehabbing a left elbow injury, threw six innings in Triple A on June 30. He could be an option if the Phillies believe he’s ready to pitch.

Gregorius dealing with knee issue

Didi Gregorius is out of the lineup for a second consecutive day. As it turns out, he received an injection on his left knee on Friday night, the same one that led to a month-long injured list stint earlier this season.

Interim manager Rob Thomson classified the injection as a lubricant and said they’ll know more on Tuesday if the injury requires an IL stint.

“I think it’s been sort of building over time ever since he came back from it,” Thomson said. “So we just decided to get a lubricant in there and try to free it up a little bit.”

When asked if the knee problem is affecting his ability to hit for power, Thomson did not hesitate to agree that it was certainly part of the problem. The 32-year-old has yet to hit a home run in 41 games this season. Thomson believes it’s impeding his ability to stay on his back side, turn and hit to the pull side.

“Hopefully this clears it and he’s pain free and starts pulling the ball more,” Thomson said.

Short Bullpen

The Phillies are going to need its ace Zack Wheeler to eat innings on Sunday. Seranthony Domínguez, José Alvarado, Brad Hand and Andrew Bellatti have all pitched on back-to-back nights and could be unavailable to pitch on Sunday. Thomson does not have a hard-and-fast rule regarding reliever usage the same way Joe Girardi did, but he could be aggressive tonight considering that his team is facing an opponent ahead of them in the wild card race with an off day on Monday.

Perhaps the Suárez news changes the calculus.

“We’ll see,” Thomson said with a smile when asked if he’s short in the bullpen on Sunday.

Notes

Nick Maton (right shoulder sprain) is undergoing another slide test on Monday. Johan Camargo (right knee strain) will undergo a full workout on Sunday. He’s eligible to come off the injured list on July 5.
Sam Coonrod (right shoulder strain) threw an up-and-down bullpen session on Saturday in Philadelphia. Thomson said he’s on his way to Clearwater to begin the next stage of his rehab. He’ll start facing hitters next week. Coonrod has not pitched for the Phillies this season.

Óscar Mercado, who was designated for assignment on July 1, was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Guardians, the same team that DFA’d him a week ago.

Here are the lineups for Sunday’s series finale against the Cardinals.

Cardinals