The Phillies have suffered a major blow to their starting rotation as Ranger Suárez had to exit Saturday night’s game against the Cardinals early due to a left hand injury. The left-hander had been performing exceptionally well, with a 9-0 record and a 1.36 ERA through May 21. However, he suffered a left hand contusion after a hard line drive hit by St. Louis shortstop Alec Burleson in the second inning.
Suárez managed to knock the ball down and make the play at first base, but the throw forced Bryce Harper to stretch to make the catch. Despite rarely displaying emotion on the field, Suárez appeared to be in discomfort as he left the mound following the play.
This injury comes after Suárez’s first loss of the season in his previous start against the Colorado Rockies, where he surrendered five runs in the first two innings. He did settle down after that, but the team was unable to overcome the early deficit.
The Phillies announced that Suárez would undergo further evaluation to determine the extent of his injury. Given his stellar performance so far this season, his absence would be a significant blow to the team’s starting rotation, leaving fans and experts alike wondering how long he will be out of action for recovery and rehabilitation before returning back on track for another successful year on field with Phillies.
