Suárez Replaced for All-Star Game
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suárez had planned to participate in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, but he withdrew on Saturday. Major League Baseball announced that Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried would take Suárez’s spot on the roster. The reason for the change remains unclear, and the Phillies haven’t provided any information about Suárez’s status following MLB’s announcement.
Recent Performance and Workload
Suárez would have had three days of rest before the All-Star Game. He last pitched on Friday night against Oakland, averaging a career-low 90 mph with his fastball, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. Despite being one of the Phillies’ top starters at times, Suárez has struggled recently, allowing 15 earned runs in his last 14.2 innings. Suárez currently holds a 10-4 record with a 2.76 ERA. The Phillies are cautious since he’s thrown 114 innings this season, compared to 125 innings last season, which an injury interrupted.
Phillies All-Stars
Suárez remains one of eight Phillies selected for the All-Star team. This group includes starters Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm (who will participate in the Home Run Derby on Monday), and Trea Turner, along with pitchers Zack Wheeler, Matt Strahm, and Jeff Hoffman. Cristopher Sánchez was also selected to replace Atlanta’s Chris Sale. No team has ever had five pitchers selected for the All-Star Game.
Suárez’s Impressive Season
Despite his recent struggles, Suárez has had an impressive year, matching his career-best for victories in a season. Earlier in the year, he achieved a remarkable feat, becoming the first MLB pitcher in 58 years to start a season 9-0 with a 1.36 ERA after 10 starts. This ERA was also the lowest for a Phillies starter since Grover Cleveland Alexander.
Historical Comparisons
Alexander, a Baseball Hall of Famer, began his career in Philadelphia in 1911 and had a distinguished 20-year career, winning the pitching triple crown three times. Before this, Suárez won each of his first eight starts, becoming the fourth pitcher in MLB history since 1901 to achieve a WHIP of 0.72 or less in their first eight starts, all of which were victories. The other three pitchers, Christy Mathewson (1901), Addie Joss (1907), and Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown (1908), all pitched in baseball’s dead-ball era and are enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.