Ranger Suarez starts season on injured list for Phillies
Ranger Suarez, the All-Star pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, will start the season on the 15-day injured list due to a back issue. Phillies manager Rob Thomson confirmed this decision, saying it is mostly precautionary. The team wants to ensure the injury does not worsen. Suarez has been struggling with back problems for the last week. Thomson mentioned that the team does not think the injury will keep him out for long. The injured list placement can be backdated for three days, which means Suarez could return quickly, possibly missing just one start. Last season, Suarez faced similar back problems that affected his performance. He began the 2024 season strongly, but his ERA rose sharply after his back issues worsened. The Phillies believe resting him now could prevent further complications. In Suarez's absence, Taijuan Walker will take his place in the rotation. Walker had a tough outing against the Yankees recently but has shown improvement during Spring Training. The team hopes he can build on this progress after a challenging 2024 season.