Toronto Blue Jays (21-14) at Philadelphia Phillies (16-19): Game 36 Preview

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Phillies return to the diamond after an off-day welcoming the Toronto Blue Jays to South Philadelphia for the first of a quick two-game set. 

The Phillies will look to build off of a 6-1 win on Sunday over the Boston Red Sox.  The Phils’ will start righty Aaron Nola.  Nola surrendered 7-hits and 4-earned runs in his last outing, a no decision at the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The Phils’ starter is 0-2 with a 5.48 ERA in four career starts against Toronto.  

The Blue Jays are fresh off a sweep of the Pirates in Pittsburgh.  The Jays outscored the Buccos 22-2 in the three-game sweep.  Toronto will lean on 25-year-old Alek Manoah, he will be making his first career start against the Phillies.  

First pitch is set for 7:10 PM/EDT from South Philadelphia.  

Continue reading “Toronto Blue Jays (21-14) at Philadelphia Phillies (16-19): Game 36 Preview”
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Ranger Suarez Stellar in Latest Rehab Outting for Lehigh Valley, Return to the Rotation on the Horizon

Nov 1, 2022; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) pitches against the Houston Astros during the first inning in game three of the 2022 World Series at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez is one step closer to returning to the Big Leagues.  The left-hander scattered four hits and one run on Sunday to lead the Lehigh Valley IronPigs to an 8-4 victory over the Syracuse Mets in International League play. 

Suarez, who was expected to pitch four innings and around 65 pitches, earned the “W” after throwing a mere 48-pitches in the aforementioned five frames.  He touched around 94 MPH with excellent command.  Suarez will likely start for the Phillies next weekend against the Colorado Rockies, per multiple reports. 

Continue reading “Ranger Suarez Stellar in Latest Rehab Outting for Lehigh Valley, Return to the Rotation on the Horizon”

Phillies Final: The Losing Streak is Ovah! Phils’, Kyle Schwarber Defeat Boston in Series Finale

May 7, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber (12) rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Boston Red Sox in the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Phillies stopped the bleeding on Sunday afternoon defeating the Boston Red Sox, 6-1, to end a six-game losing skid. 

Kyle Schwarber had his best game in weeks, breaking an 0-for-21 streak in the 4th inning with an RBI single.  He followed in the 6th with a 434-foot, upper deck “Schwarbomb” to extend the Phillies lead to 4-1.  

Phils’ starting pitcher Taijuan Walker also had his best game in weeks.  The righty issued no walks over 6-innings and only allowed one run while striking out six Sox.  The Phillies bullpen settled down with Jose Alvarado throwing a scoreless inning and Matt Strahm earning a two-inning save against his former team.  

Here’s a closer look at how they scored, stats and facts from the game, and what’s on deck for the Phillies. 

Continue reading “Phillies Final: The Losing Streak is Ovah! Phils’, Kyle Schwarber Defeat Boston in Series Finale”

Philadelphia Phillies Injury News and Notes

Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s the latest news and notes on the Phillies injuries as updated by the ballclub:

LHP Ranger Suarez (left elbow strain)– Suarez will make another rehab start with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on May 7 at Syracuse (Blue Jays). If all goes well, Suarez will rejoin the rotation according to Phils’ skipper Rob Thomson. The lefty has made two rehab outings to date allowing one hit and one walk over four innings. 

Expected Return: week of May 8

RHP Andrew Bellatti (right triceps tendinitis)- Bellatti threw live batting practice earlier this week in Clearwater, FL.  He will make two scheduled rehab appearances, May 5 and May 7, both in Clearwater before continuing his rehab with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. 

Expected Return: mid-May

Continue reading “Philadelphia Phillies Injury News and Notes”

Boston Red Sox (19-14) at Philadelphia Phillies (15-17): Game 33 Preview

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Phillies return to Citizens Bank Park on Friday to face the American League’s Boston Red Sox for the first game of a three-game set.  

The Phils’ are limping into Friday’s game after being swept by the NL West leading Los Angeles Dodgers.  The Dodgers outscored the Phillies 36-11 during the brutal three-game series.  The sweep put the Phillies back under the .500 mark for the season. 

But all hope is not lost as a raucous crowd is expected for the 2023 home debut of slugger Bryce Harper.  

The Phillies will send Zack Wheeler to the mound and hope the hurler can duplicate his last outing against Houston– 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 7 K.  

Boston will throw lefty Chris Sale.  Sale is 2-2 on the season with a 6.75 ERA but is coming off of his best outing on April 30 against Cleveland– 6.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 K.  

First pitch is set for 7:10 PM/EDT from South Philadelphia.  

Continue reading “Boston Red Sox (19-14) at Philadelphia Phillies (15-17): Game 33 Preview”

Phillies Roster News and Notes: Phils’ Select Jeff Hoffman, Nick Nelson Optioned and More

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Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer-USA TODAY NETWORK

The Philadelphia Phillies announced a series of roster moves on Thursday afternoon, the most notable being the addition of RHP Jeff Hoffman to the active roster.  In a corresponding move to make room on the 40-man roster, the Phillies have designated James McArthur for assignment. 

You may be saying, “who the hell is Jeff Hoffman?”  Hoffman, 30, was signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent on March 31 and assigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.  He appeared in nine games for IronPigs tallying an 0-2 record with a 7.00 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Hoffman originally opted out of his contract on Monday before the Phillies made the decision to add him to the active roster.  

Hoffman, who spent 2021-22 with the Cincinnati Reds, has pitched in 134 Major League games and has a 15-21 record with a 5.84 ERA and 1.585 WHIP.  The former 9th overall pick in the 2014 MLB June Amatuer Draft, Hoffman had his best professional season in 2022 going 2-0 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.410 WHIP in 44.2 innings with the Reds. 

But hey, he throws hard or something.

Continue reading “Phillies Roster News and Notes: Phils’ Select Jeff Hoffman, Nick Nelson Optioned and More”

MLB, Rob Manfred Have No Time for Bryce Harper’s Elbow Brace

May 3, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Bryce Harper (3) scores a run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Major League Baseball is going all in on the new pace of play rules that debuted at the beginning of the season.  The latest victim of the rules, returning Phillies’ slugger Bryce Harper. But no the way many expected.

A lot was made about Harper’s desire to return to the lineup and forgoing a trip to the minors for a rehab assignment.  The talk on Philadelphia sports radio centered around Harper’s need to his timing down, more accurately his pitch clock timing down.  In his two games back in the lineup, the notoriously slow Harper has had no issues with the pitch clock while in the batter’s box. 

But, Harper and the Phillies have run into a bit of a problem on the basepath.  

As you know, Harper is wearing a brace while running the bases to protect his surgically repaired elbow.  The slugger reached base five times on Wednesday but only wore the brace four times. Harper struggled to get the bulky brace on and, despite Nick Castellanos taking a timeout to give him more time, was unable to do so within baseball’s new pace of play clock.  

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Phillies Petition MLB for Exemption Ahead of Bryce Harper’s 2023 Home Debut

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Phillies aren’t gonna get “Bellinger’d” on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park! 

According to reports, the Phillies have petitioned Major Leauge Baseball to allow for more time than normal when Bryce Harper makes his 2023 home debut.  The petition, which is likely to be granted, will allow Harper time to step out of the batter’s box and acknowledge what is bound to be a raucous crowd in South Philadelphia.  

In turn, Harper and the Phillies won’t get hit with an automatic strike ala Chicago Cubs star Cody Bellinger when he returned to Los Angeles earlier this season.

Isn’t it nice of Major League Baseball to allow some semblance of tradition, even if it means getting a note from the principal to make it happen!?!

Continue reading “Phillies Petition MLB for Exemption Ahead of Bryce Harper’s 2023 Home Debut”

Phillies (1-4) at New York Yankees (3-2): Game 5 Preview

Fresh off their first victory of the 2023 season, the Philadelphia Phillies will look to take the rubber match of the three-game set from the New York Yankees. The Phils will send Aaron Nola to the mound and the Yankees will counter with Gerrit Cole.

First pitch is set for 1:05 PM/Eastern from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

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Phillies (0-4) at New York Yankees (3-1): Game 5 Preview

The Philadelphia Phillies head into Tuesday’s game against the New York Yankees as the only winless team remaining in Major League Baseball.  Riding an 0-4 start, the Phils will send lefty Matt Strahm to the mound in a spot start.  The Yankees will counter with Domingo German. 

 First pitch is set for 7:15 PM from the Bronx.  The game will be available nationally on TBS and locally on NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus. 

Continue reading “Phillies (0-4) at New York Yankees (3-1): Game 5 Preview”