Phillies Injury Updates: Matt Strahm to pitch Saturday, on track for Opening Day

The Latest Phillies Injury Updates

• Matt Strahm (left shoulder impingement)
• Status: On track for Opening Day
• Strahm will pitch in a minor-league game on Saturday, according to The Athletic‘s Matt Gelb. Assuming it goes smoothly, he’ll then pitch Monday and be ready for Opening Day.
• Strahm gave a thorough explanation to reporters on Sunday regarding what went wrong with his shoulder. “It’s the positioning that my arm falls into when I get it back,” Strahm said. “So it’s basically the inflammation out of there allows the muscles to work how they’re supposed to. With inflammation, swelling shuts off muscles. And then with swelling, as I was coming back, it wasn’t stabilizing my shoulder, and then my shoulder was banging around. So, as long as we keep the inflammation out, the swelling out, it will be good.” — Last Updated March 21 by Nathan Ackerman

• Ranger Suárez (mild back stiffness)
• Status: TBD; playing catch Saturday
• Ranger Suárez is dealing with “mild back stiffness,” according to multiple reports from spring training — including The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Scott Lauber, who reports Suárez felt stiff on Sunday after a 60-pitch Saturday intrasquad. His Friday start was scratched. It’s notable, of course, because it was a nagging back injury that severely hampered Suárez down the stretch last season.
• Suárez said Friday he’ll play catch on Saturday. He said the issue is different from last year in that it’s not as severe: “It’s just mild discomfort compared to last year. Last year was a bigger deal,” Suárez said through an interpreter. “I feel better already.” — Last Updated March 21 by Nathan Ackerman

• Johan Rojas (right shoulder discomfort)
• Status: Makes spring outfield debut on Thursday
• Johan Rojas, who suffered a shoulder injury sliding into second base while playing in the Dominican Winter League playoffs, played center field for the first time this spring on Thursday. He played seven innings and had six chances. He also doubled. He DH’d on Friday and went 2-for-5. — Last Updated March 21 by Nathan Ackerman

• Weston Wilson (left oblique strain)
• Status: Out six weeks, will begin the season on 10-day injured list
• Weston Wilson was one of the front runners to win the last bench spot as a fourth or fifth right-handed hitting infield/outfield option. He’ll have to wait a little longer to make an impact with the big league club. The 30-year-old will open the season on the injured list with an oblique strain. Wilson felt something while hitting in the batting cages on February 21.
• Wilson told reporters, including MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, that the injury was “a freak accident.” “I didn’t feel anything before, so, like, nothing warning me,” Wilson said, “Disappointment, I would say, is the biggest word. It sucks. I was really looking forward to starting the year. I felt really good about breaking with the team.” — Last Updated Feb. 24 by Destiny Lugardo