Phillies Injury Updates: How far off are Taijuan Walker and Ranger Suárez?

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The Latest Phillies Injury Updates

Taijuan Walker (right index finger inflammation)
Status: 15-day injured list
Walker has inflammation in his right index finger and a blister on the inside (right) of it. RHP Michael Mercado was called up to take his spot on the 26-man roster.
In his first rehab outing, Walker allowed four hits and three runs — two of them earned — over 2 2/3 innings at Double-A Reading on July 31.
According to MLB.com‘s Todd Zolecki, Walker is set to make a second rehab outing on Tuesday, Aug. 6. This one will come at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Manager Rob Thomson said that Walker could start for the Phillies on Aug. 11 in Arizona if all goes well in this upcoming rehab appearance. (Last Updated by Tim Kelly on Aug. 3)

Ranger Suárez (low back soreness)
Status: 15-day injured list
Suárez was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 27 with low back soreness, retroactive to July 24.
Manager Rob Thomson said that Suárez reported left lower back tightness on Friday. He thought he could pitch through it during his bullpen session, so the Phillies decided to proceed with caution and give him a break. They hope Suárez can make his next start during the Arizona series in August.
Suárez missed the All-Star Game with back spasms. Thomson said Suárez’s previous back issue was in his right side. This time, the discomfort is in his left side. The Phillies are optimistic that Suárez will benefit from this break during the stretch run. “I think over the course of a full season, guys typically need some time off,” Thomson said. “I see this as kind of a silver lining for Ranger’s year. I think he’ll come out of this stronger.”
The plan for Suárez is to throw on Aug. 4 or Aug. 5, but it doesn’t seem like he’ll return for the Phillies during this current road trip, per Zolecki.(Last Updated by Tim Kelly on Aug. 3)

Spencer Turnbull (right lat strain)
Status: 15-day injured list, out 6-8 weeks
Turnbull will be out until August with a right lat strain. He was lifted from his start against the Detroit Tigers after three innings on June 26 with right shoulder soreness. He expressed optimism about his status to reporters in Detroit after the game, but testing revealed a more significant injury.
Turnbull threw a 10-pitch bullpen on Monday, July 29.
The Phillies will try to stretch him out as a starter as he gets closer to returning, but there’s a chance he could come back as more of a multi-inning reliever if a need in the bullpen arises or the Phillies run out of time to properly stretch him out. “If there’s a need before he gets fully stretched out, maybe we pull the plug and go,” Thomson said during the Pirates series in Pittsburgh. (Updated by Destiny Lugardo on July 29)

Dylan Covey (right shoulder strain)
Status: 60-day injured list
Covey began a rehab assignment with Single-A Clearwater on Sunday, July 28. (Last updated by Destiny Lugardo on July 29)

Luis Ortiz (Tommy John surgery)
Status: 15-day injured list
Ortiz underwent successful Tommy John surgery on July 11. (Updated by Destiny Lugardo on July 12)

Andrew Painter (Tommy John surgery)
Status: Minor league 60-day injured list
The No. 1 overall prospect in the Phillies’ minor league system underwent Tommy John surgery on July 25, 2023.
Painter is throwing 25-pitch bullpens every Tuesday and Friday. He’s only throwing fastballs and changeups currently. Thomson didn’t rule out the 21-year-old pitching in simulated games — which are a controlled setting — before the end of the year. However, he doesn’t believe he’ll be pitching for an affiliate at any point in 2024. (Updated by Tim Kelly on June 29)

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