Ranger Suárez is pitching like an ace.
In his latest start against the Chicago Cubs, Suárez struck out eight and allowed just one run, four hits and one walk in 7 1/3 innings.
He finished off the month of June with a 1.08 ERA. His 7 1/3 innings pitched is his longest outing since June 23, 2022.
It’s one of the best months for a starting pitcher in Phillies history.
Per Elias Sports Bureau, Suárez is the 10th pitcher in Phillies history and first since Aaron Nola in May 2018 to allow one run or fewer across at least six innings in five starts in a single month. Nola finished 2018 third in National League Cy Young voting.
He’s also the first Phillies starter since Nola in August 2018 to post an ERA below 1.10 across at least 30 innings pitched in a single month. Only five other Phillies have accomplished this feat at least once since 1966.
Cliff Lee did it twice in 2011.
Suárez’s June doesn’t compare to Lee’s in 2011, but what Lee accomplished is something we’ll probably never see again. He allowed just one earned run over a staggering 42 innings pitched. He threw at least seven innings in all five starts and threw three straight complete-game shutouts to close out the month. To put that into perspective, there’s been only nine complete-game shutouts in baseball this year.
Suárez earned his fourth victory of the month in the Phillies’ 5-1 win over the Cubs on Tuesday at Wrigley Field. Brandon Marsh led the way with two home runs and three RBIs.