PITTSBURGH — Rob Thomson said before the All-Star break that JT Realmuto would likely return for the Phillies’ second series of the return rather than the first, but it now appears the Phillies’ starting catcher could return as early as Saturday at PNC Park.
“We don’t know yet, but we’re very close,” Thompson said before Friday night’s series opener between the Phillies and Pirates.
Friday is a recovery day for Realmuto, who has been rehabbing in Clearwater over the All-Star break. There are no final checks for him, just a matter of how his body responds.
Upon Realmuto’s return, the Phillies will likely option catcher Rafael Marchand back to Triple-A. Marchand has been solid defensively in Realmuto’s absence, going 15-for-51 (.294 batting average) with four doubles and three home runs. At 25, Marchand seems ready to be a major league backup, but he may have to wait until 2025 to fill that role. The Phillies would likely prefer to have Marchand be an everyday pitcher in Triple-A while Stubbs is still on the roster, rather than making him a starter once or twice a week in the majors.
Realmuto has been sidelined with a knee injury since the Phillies returned from London on June 9. He had been dealing with right meniscus pain since the first week of May and underwent meniscectomy surgery on June 12.
The Phillies are 17-14 in games that Realmuto has missed.
Rotation Updates
Zack Wheeler (back spasms) and Rangers’ Suarez (back tightness) have both recovered and should return to the Phillies’ starting rotation in Minnesota after the team finishes playing in Pittsburgh.
Both pitchers threw at 120 feet on Friday, with Suarez pitching on flat ground. Suarez will do some bullpen work on Saturday, and the Phillies will then choose starters for Monday and Tuesday.
“I’m sure he’ll be OK but who knows what will happen tomorrow,” Thomson said of Suarez.
The Phillies will start Aaron Nola on Friday night, Christopher Sanchez on Saturday night and Tyler Phillips on Sunday afternoon. They won’t face rookie sensation Paul Skenes in the series. The Pirates will use light-throwing veteran lefties in the opening (Martin Pérez) and final (Marco Gonzales) games, then mediocre right-hander Luis L. Ortiz will pitch on Saturday.
