Suarez (10-5) took the loss Monday against Minnesota, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out four.
After pitching to a 1.75 ERA across his first 15 starts, the Philadelphia southpaw has struggled over his last five outings, generating an unsightly 6.67 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 27 innings. Batters have started hitting Suarez better lately, as he's now allowed six or more knocks in eight consecutive appearances. However, this outing marks the 11th of the season in which the 28-year-old hasn't yielded a long ball. He sports a 0.7 HR/9, which would be a career best for a season in which he was predominantly a starter. Suarez currently lines up to make his next start against Cleveland at home this weekend.
Suarez (back) is listed as the Phillies' probable starter for Monday's game against the Twins at Target Field.
Suarez opted to skip out on pitching in the All-Star Game this past week while he had contended with back tightness leading up to the end of the first half of the season, but as expected, he'll be ready to pitch in the Phillies' second series coming out of the break. Despite being lit up for 15 earned runs over 15.2 innings across his last three starts, Suarez still has maintained sterling ratios over his 19 outings on the season (2.76 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 18.8 K-BB%). His fantasy managers can feel comfortable activating him in what shapes up as a two-start week for Suarez, who is lined up to get the ball again next weekend in Cleveland.
Phillies' Ranger Suarez: Hurting but won't miss start
Rotowire
Suarez won't be available for Tuesday's All-Star Game while he recovers from back tightness, but the Phillies expect him to be available to make his first start of the second half July 22 or 23 in Minnesota, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Suarez hasn't been forced to miss any time due to the back issue and likely would have been available to start during the upcoming week if the Phillies needed him, but he'll instead use the All-Star break to heal up while he's less than 100 percent healthy. Though he's in the midst of a career-best season and was looking forward to pitching in his first Midsummer Classic, Suarez clearly hasn't been at his best of late, as he has struggled to an 8.62 ERA, 1.85 WHIP and 13:7 K:BB in 15.2 innings over his last three starts, two of which have come against sub-.500 clubs in the Marlins and Athletics. Suarez won't travel to Arlington, Texas, for the All-Star Game and will instead remain in Philadelphia to continue throwing. Zack Wheeler is also tending to a back issue and will skip the All-Star Game, but both he and Suarez are expected to take the hill in some order when the Phillies next require fourth and fifth starters July 22 and 23.
Suarez (10-4) took the loss against the Athletics on Friday, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts over six innings.
Suarez allowed three two-out runs in a rough third inning and then yielded another run in the fifth. While the Phillies offense didn't help much Friday, he has been stuck on 10 wins since June 8 and has surrendered 16 earned runs over his past three outings. The first-time All-Star still owns an impressive 2.76 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 112:26 K:BB this season and will look to hit the reset button over the break.
