Categories: InjuriesPhillies Beat with Destiny Lugardo

2 Phillies pitchers are ready for a rehab assignment

Zach Eflin appears ready for a rehab assignment. (Cheryl Pursell)

There were some positive updates regarding two injured Phillies pitchers.

Seranthony Domínguez (right triceps tendinitis) and Zach Eflin (right knee bruise) are ready to begin their respective rehab assignments. Details on when and where the assignments will take place were not immediately available since Thomson had yet to meet with both pitchers and the coaching staff.

Thomson said Eflin’s PFP session (pitcher fielding practice) went well, which was one of the bigger obstacles Eflin had to overcome to return this season. Eflin has not pitched for the Phillies since June 25 as a nagging knee injury has kept him out for more than two months.

He won’t be used as a traditional starter. There’s not enough time to stretch him out so he can pitch six or seven innings, but Thomson said Eflin can throw two or three innings at a time either in a piggyback, opener or bullpen role.

It’s possible the Phillies could have two rotation spots devoted to piggyback partners in the near future. Ranger Suárez is quickly approaching a career high in innings pitched and he’s hit a wall when facing the lineup a second time in each of his last two starts. Noah Syndergaard has also given up at least four runs in each of his last two starts. Both could be candidates to pair with a piggyback partner.

The team could also reward Bailey Falter with a rotation spot, move one of Syndergaard or Kyle Gibson to the bullpen and pair Suárez with either Eflin or Griff McGarry. Either way, the Phillies will have options. Another excellent outing from Falter could force the Phillies to make that decision once Zack Wheeler returns from the injured list.

Speaking of Wheeler, he threw from 75 feet on Wednesday and will throw from 90 feet on Thursday. He could throw a bullpen over the weekend. He’ll probably need to throw one additional bullpen before returning to the rotation. Wheeler is unlikely to need a rehab outing before returning.

The Phillies recently promoted McGarry to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. While Thomson hasn’t spoken much on what McGarry’s role could be if he does make it to the big leagues this year, he could also occupy a piggyback role in the Phillies rotation. Both McGarry and Eflin could represent massive upgrades to the pitching staff as the Phillies look to earn one of the final two wild card spots in the National League.

Domínguez’s return could not come soon enough. Since the Phillies bullpen ace was placed on the injured list, the team’s relievers have posted a 5.55 ERA. While he did get some rest during the roadtrip, David Robertson has thrown 65 pitches in his last two outings and his cutter velocity was down to around 92 mph in Tuesday’s game. He could need more rest — and less taxing outings — down the stretch and getting Domínguez back makes that easier.

Stott out of the lineup again

Bryson Stott, who has five hits in his last 11 plate appearances, is not in the lineup for a second consecutive night. He’s not hurt. Thomson has just decided to sit him against a left-handed starting pitcher. Stott is hitting over .300 against lefties since June, but hitters have a .672 OPS against Trevor Rogers in his career.

He was going to play on Wednesday, but since the righty Edmundo Sosa went 2-for-3 with a home run and a double, Thomson opted to give Sosa another chance to start. Stott will be in the lineup for Thursday’s finale against the Marlins.

“I said to [Stott], ‘We’re gonna give you tomorrow night off too.’ He said, ‘I kind of figured that.'”

Here are the lineups for Wednesday’s game against the Miami Marlins.

Marlins