Realmuto returns, Suarez and Wheeler ready to go in Minnesota originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia
PITTSBURGH — Day 1 of the All-Star break did not go well for the Phillies, who blew two three-run leads, lost 11 baserunners and lost to the Pirates on Friday night.
Day 2 started much better. The Phillies activated JT Realmuto from the injured list after he missed 32 games recovering from a meniscectomy on his right knee. He was back in the lineup Saturday, batting fifth.
Realmuto played with a torn meniscus for more than a month and was having his weakest offensive season as a Phillie when he underwent surgery on June 12, but he still poses a threat to opposing pitchers and adds to the Phils’ lineup by a vacancy because they are replacing a lower-level hitter with a middle-level bat.
Rafael Marchan was chosen by Triple A to make room in Realmuto’s squad. Marchan played very well in his extra month in the bigs, going 15-for-51 (.294) with four doubles and three home runs.
Garrett Stubbs will remain the backup catcher.
“He played really well. He showed us everything we needed to see. He’s a great player,” coach Rob Thomson said of the 25-year-old Marchan. “But he needs to play, he needs to be able to play every day and we thought it was the smartest thing to do. Stubby has also done a great job, he has been with us for a few years, we know how important Stubby is in the clubhouse, but Marchan needs to play and that is the number 1 factor.”
Ranger Suarez and Zack Wheeler will return to the Phillies’ rotation in Minnesota. Suarez will start against the Twins on Monday night, with Wheeler on Tuesday. Both dealt with minor back injuries before the All-Star break. Wheeler’s cost him his last game before the break and Suarez’s prevented him from participating in the All-Star Game.
The Phillies will handle their starters carefully in the second half. This season is about winning everything, not putting multiple pitchers at the top of the innings leaderboard. The Phils had Aaron Nola at a 90-95 pitching limit on Friday night and it appears they will use a similar approach with the rest of their rotation in this first cycle.
Wheeler may not hit as many shots in his return. He threw 76 on July 9 and will have two full weeks between starts when he steps on the mound at Target Field. Suarez will work with nine days rest.
