But when Cristopher Sánchez walked off the mound Tuesday night after just two innings — velocity down, command missing, forearm barking — the Phillies couldn’t help but flash back to all the other times they’ve said, “It’s probably just a scare.”
And we all know how that story usually ends.
Sánchez exited Tuesday’s 5-1 loss to the Mets with what the club called “left forearm soreness.” That’s the kind of phrase that makes front offices reach for TUMS. It’s also the kind of phrase that comes before words like “precautionary MRI” and “shut down for a few weeks.”
“We do not expect any structural damage,” manager Rob Thomson said following the contest.
This was not a vintage Sánchez outing. His average sinker velocity dipped by 1.4 mph. His usually nasty changeup looked more like a batting practice special. He threw 58 pitches across two laborious innings — 31 in the first, 27 in the second — and looked out of sync from the jump.
Sánchez walked two, gave up two runs on two hits, and forced Caleb Cotham to burn two mound visits before the second inning was over. After that frame, Sánchez gave a slight nod when asked by Thomson if he was OK. No words. Just a nod. That was a red flag.
Thomson pressed. Sánchez finally relented.
That’s when the night shifted from frustrating to worrisome.
Inside, Sánchez was looked over by a team doctor and went through movement drills in the training room. He’s never dealt with forearm soreness mid-game before, and while no MRI has been scheduled yet, that possibility remains on the table. The team hopes to know more within the next day or two.
For a Phillies rotation already trying to steer Aaron Nola back on course and still waiting for Ranger Suárez to return, this is… well, not great.
So what kept this from turning into a total disaster?
That would be Joe Ross — yes, that Joe Ross — who delivered three scoreless innings in relief, his best outing yet in a Phillies uniform. After a rocky start to his Philly tenure, this was the version the team hoped they were signing. Three innings, three strikeouts, zero damage.
Jordan Romano also rebounded from Saturday’s meltdown to post a clean frame. But the bullpen couldn’t keep the Mets down forever. In the seventh, Orion Kerkering gave up a laser double to Pete Alonso and a two-run single to Luis Torrens that pushed the game out of reach.
It was another quiet night for the bats, too. The Phillies have now scored in just two of their last 20 innings. Bryce Harper had a hit. Realmuto had a hit. That was about it.
Zack Wheeler gets the ball Wednesday. If anyone can play stopper, it’s him.
But even Wheeler needs a little something called run support.
As for Sánchez? For now, the Phillies are hanging onto hope.
And hoping it’s just a scare.
“He’s one of the best pitchers in the National League, so other people would have to pick it up. But I’m not anticipating that yet.” – Phillies manager Rob Thomson, per MLB.com.
Ranger Suarez will make one more start with triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday, and then he should be added to the starting rotation. The 29-year-old made two starts for Low-A Clearwater before Tuesday’s start for Triple-A Lehigh, tossing seven innings, striking out 11 with a 1.29 ERA and 0.79 WHIP. He looked solid with the IronPigs, tossing five scoreless frames while scattering two hits. He collected five strikeouts and threw 59 pitches.
