Sep 27, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: James A. Pittman-Imagn Images
On June 25th, Ranger Suarez lost his second game of the season in Detroit. It wasn't a great outing for Ranger, but the Phillies didn't hit for him in a 4-1 loss.
Suarez allowed four runs total, only two earned, and gave up eight hits in six innings.
It dropped his record to 10-2 and his ERA climbed a touch to 1.83. It was a heck of a first 16 games to the season for Suarez. He was a surefire All-Star and was still at the top of the conversation for National League Cy Young.
So, what was the big deal that he had a mediocre start in late June?
It's worth pointing out because that was the last time Suarez had a quality start.
Sure, there was time on the I.L. since and a second stint where he wasn't on the I.L. but he did skip a start to deal with back soreness, so he's only made 11 starts since.
None of them were a quality start. In fact, only one of them even reached six innings.
The Phillies were hoping to see signs of the first half Suarez in his final tune-up before the playoffs. Instead, they got his worst start of the season.
I thought Taijuan Walker wasn’t starting another game this season for the Phillies? Oh, wait…
Suarez pitched just two innings. He allowed six runs, all earned, on seven hits and two walks. He threw 59 pitches - 41 of them in the first inning. The game was over basically before the fans were even settled into their seats. The final score was 9-1 and barring a miracle, all but locked the Phillies into the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
But that playoff seeding stuff is hardly relevant when one of the Phillies most trusted pitchers is in a downward spiral.
Since that start in Detroit at the end of June, Suarez's numbers are pretty ugly.
He went 2-6 with 6.54 ERA. He threw just 52 1/3 innings in those 11 starts - which is less than five innings a start. He allowed 69 hits and 22 walks. That equates to a WHIP of 1.739. That's 15.7 baserunners per nine innings.
My tweet wasn't too far off, eh?
Jokes aside, the bigger concern should be this question: Can the Phillies rely on a pitcher who has basically pitched the same as Taijuan Walker for the past three months to pitch in the playoffs?
There's no doubt Suarez has slotted in behind the Phillies top three pitchers, but that means if there is a Game 4 in the NLDS against whoever the opponent is, it means two things:
1. It's a closeout game on the road.
2. The season could be on the line.
Can you feel comfortable starting Suarez in that game after how much he's struggled in the second half of the season?
It'd be one thing if Suarez was serviceable in the second half. After all, most teams' No. 4 starters in the playoffs fit that description. Then you can lean on the past as a reason to be confident that he will keep you in a game.
But he's not been good. He got hit around by the Oakland A's in July, the Tampa Bay Rays - who have a terrible offense - earlier this month, and the Nationals - who scored four runs total in their last four games before torching Suarez.
ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOKS pic.twitter.com/UPrxkN6ZAA
On Friday, Suarez only topped 92 MPH on a pitch once in the game - and it was a four-seam fastball on his penultimate pitch in the game.
His fastballs were mostly between 89-91 MPH and he wasn't sharp with his location. None of this is good for the Phillies as they head into the NLDS a week from now.
The Phillies may not have another option. They may have to settle for Suarez as that Game 4 guy, which wouldn't be until October 9 - so he'd have 11 days off.
But the Phillies have to consider other options. Do you start with an opener and then go to Suarez? Do you have a super short leash on him? Do you plan a piggyback scenario with another pitcher?
Or do you leave him off the postseason roster altogether?
It's one thing to not have to worry about these kinds of questions when it comes to a No. 5 starter, which is why the whole Taijuan Walker situation was considered a regular season problem.
However, it's another thing when you are talking about the No. 4 starter, who is needed for probably three starts in October if you want to win the World Series.
The Phillies have figure out what to do here, because now this is a postseason problem, and one the Phillies never thought they'd have to worry about three months ago.
