Phillies place All-Star lefty Ranger Suárez on injured list with lower back soreness

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — All-Star left-hander Ranger Suárez was put on the 15-day injured list by the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday because of soreness in his lower back.

The 28-year-old started 9-1 and earned his first National League All-Star selection and is 10-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 20 starts after a summer slide. He has thrown 119 1/3 innings, on pace to top his 125 last year and career high of 155 1/3 in 2022.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he hoped Suárez could return at some point during the Aug. 8-11 series at Arizona. Thomson said Suárez woke up Friday with tightness in the back, though in a different area than the injury that caused Suárez to miss the All-Star Game.

“He thought he could work though it in his bullpen,” Thomson said, “and he couldn’t. He was still tight afterward, so we’re going to be super cautious and give him a little rest.”

Philadelphia made the IL move retroactive to Wednesday.

The Phillies have hit a midsummer rut after coasting through the first three months as the best team in the major leagues. They entered Saturday’s game against Cleveland with the best record at 64-39 but had lost seven of 10.

Philadelphia recalled left-hander Koby Allard from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He is to start Sunday’s series finale.

Allard pitched in just four games last season for Atlanta. He spent four seasons with Texas and is 9-24 with a 6.10 ERA and one save over parts of six major league seasons with the Braves and Rangers.

The Phillies were already out without a pair of right-handers. Taijuan Walker has been out with finger issues on his right hand and Spencer Turnbull with a right lat strain.

Thomson said he did not expect Walker to return before Suárez is eligible to get activated off the injured list.

“I think over the course of the full season, guys typically need some time off,” Thomson said. “I see this as kind of a silver lining in Ranger’s year. I think he’ll come out of this and he’ll be stronger coming down the stretch.”