What happened to Andrew Painter and Ranger Suarez? Timeline, injury update of Phillies pitchers

As the Phillies approach their opening day, they are facing some concerns about their starting pitching staff. Two of their pitchers, Ranger Suarez and Andrew Painter, have suffered injuries, leaving the team with a shortage of arms.

Suarez, the left-handed starter, did not pitch in any spring games due to an injury. Dave Dombrowski, Phillies’ director of baseball operations, confirmed that Suarez will miss at least the first two weeks of the season.

Phillies’ pitcher, Ranger Suarez suffered an injury and did not pitch any spring training games

Meanwhile, Painter, the 19-year-old phenom who had been expected to win the No. 5 spot, sprained his UCL after throwing just two innings in his Grapefruit League debut on March 1. He has not thrown a baseball since then.

The Phillies plan to handle both pitchers with great care. Suarez threw hard from 90 feet on flat ground earlier this week, and the team is hoping he will be able to throw off the mound in the next few days. However, they are taking a cautious approach and will not rush him back to the field.

No. 1 pitching prospect, Painter, on the other hand, will start playing soft, light catch from 30 feet within the next week for a couple of days, then progress to 60 feet and 90 feet, assuming there are no setbacks.

No. 1 pitching prospect, Andrew Painter will not be available in the rotation until after the first weeks of the season.

In the meantime, the Phillies are relying on other pitchers to step up. Bailey Falter and Matt Strahm, who were initially expected to provide depth, will now start Games 3 and 5 of the season, respectively. Michael Plassmeyer, who had two relief appearances for the Phillies as a rookie last season, was optioned to triple-A on Monday and will start the season opener for Lehigh Valley in Rochester on Friday. The team sees him as an insurance policy and an on-call sixth starter.

While the team's starting pitching staff is a concern, the Phillies have reasons for optimism as well. First baseman Darick Hall finished the spring with a team-best five home runs, giving the club hope that he can fill in for the injured Rhys Hoskins. Meanwhile, utility infielder Edmundo Sosa has impressed with his excellent .364 average, four home runs, and a 1.126 OPS in spring training.

Rhys Hoskins recently suffered a devastating injury which might leave him out for the entire MLB season.

Despite the injuries and uncertainties surrounding the starting pitching staff, the Phillies remain confident heading into the season. While they will need some pitchers to step up and fill in, they have a solid lineup and strong defensive players that can help carry the team.

The Phillies will need to overcome some early obstacles if they wish to compete in one of baseball’s most challenging divisions, but if they can stay healthy and play up to their potential, they have a good chance of competing for a playoff spot come September.