Jul 5, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez (55) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Last Sunday, Ranger Suarez was masterful in his start in Atlanta against the Braves.
His team wasn't hitting, so he had to be pinpoint and near perfect. He threw seven innings, he allowed one run on just four hits while striking out eight. The Phillies won 2-1.
However, not everything was peaches and cream in the heart of Georgia for Suarez.
"My body wasn't feeling 100 percent," Suarez said through a team interpreter. "My shoulder and my back overall. I felt it a little bit. That's why they told me I was going to have a pitch limit."
The Phillies didn't divulge that before Saturday's game against Cincinnati. Instead, everyone was left to wonder why Suarez came out of the game after just five innings and 80 pitches despite allowing one run and five hits.
Manager Rob Thomson made it sound like it was workload-related.
Rob Thomson explains why Ranger Suárez only pitched five innings today:
“It was design.”
(Via @GraceDelPizzo) pic.twitter.com/9Oeezijhtv
"It was design," Thomson said. "In June he had six starts - five of them seven innings, and one of them six innings. All of them were 94 pitches or more. So we went into today trying to pull back a little bit. He had an 85-pitch limit today."
Thomson neglected to share that Suarez wasn't feeling good physically after the Atlanta start. That wasn't shared until Suarez said something to the media after the Phillies 5-1 win over the Reds that kept them a half-game ahead off the New York Mets for first place in the N.L. East.
It makes you wonder if the Phillies are going to be uber-cautious with Suarez going forward, especially if he continues to pitch as well as he has.
He has a 1.99 ERA in 12 starts this season. He has allowed one or zero runs in nine of them. He deserves an All-Star nod. But the Phillies also want him to be pitching important innings in October.
Is it possible they have more pullback games for Suarez - or any other pitcher for that matter - between now and the end of the regular season?
"You'll know when you see it," Thomson said.
Fair. Don't want to give too much away. Makes sense. Suarez will have an extra day of rest before his next start, which won't come until next Friday in San Diego, but one does have to see this and put it in their back pocket to discuss later in the season - likely following each one of Suarez's starts.
While he was on the mound on Saturday, he was good. He got through the first three innings without allowing a hit. In the fourth, he gave up a couple hits and had runners on second and third with one out. He bore down and struck out Spencer Steer, then after a walk to load the bases, he got Jose Trevino to ground out to end the inning without any damage.
In the fifth, He gave up his only run on a solo homer by Will Benson on a pitch that completely missed it's spot. After getting the second out, he gave up a couple singles before eventually striking out former teammate Austin Hays looking to end the inning.
And that, was that.
Ranger Suarez final line-
5 IP 5H 1R 2BB 6K
Excellent again, Phils needed it after Luzardos blow up start yesterday. Ranger is now down to a 1.99 ERA in 77 IP and a 1.03 WHIP.
pic.twitter.com/DG3kfptJxs
He didn't get a decision as he left the game tied at 1-1. But the Phillies plated all five runs on homers - something that wouldn't have surprised in recent seasons past, but this season, with the exception of Kyle Schwarber, homers have been harder to come buy, so for one day, fans had to find it refreshing to see balls flying out of Citizens Bank Park.
Edmundo Sosa hit a solo shot while Alec Bohm and Kyle Schwarber each had two-run blasts.
The bullpen picked up Suarez and pitched four scoreless innings allowing three hits. Jordan Romano earned his first win as a Phillies. Tanner Banks, Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm did the rest.
It was a good win for the Phillies, even if it was one that will now cause you to hold your breath with every Suarez outing the rest of the regular season.
