Harang has already been scratched from two of his three scheduled Grapefruit League starts because of back tightness and spasms. Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies signed veteran right-hander Aaron Harang as a free agent in the offseason with the idea of him adding stability to a starting rotation that was questionable beyond left-handers Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee.
Now that Lee will begin the season on the 60-day disabled list with a torn flexor tendon in his left elbow, the health of Harang becomes more imperative.
Harang will start Thursday night against the New York Yankees in an exhibition game in Tampa, Fla., and the Phillies are hoping he can get through his outing without incident. Harang has already been scratched from two of his three scheduled Grapefruit League starts because of back tightness and spasms.
So far this spring, Harang has logged just two innings. However, with the season opener almost three weeks away on April 6, the 36-year-old feels he has enough time to be ready to start the year on the active roster.
“It’s frustrating, but it’s not as frustrating as if this was later in camp,” Harang said. “I don’t view this as any type of setback. I can progress through and catch up with my innings pretty easily. It’s not that hard. I know exactly what I need to do.”
Harang has indeed been through plenty of spring trainings as he pitched in the major leagues for 13 seasons. Harang was 12-12 with a 3.57 ERA in 33 starts for the Atlanta Braves last season.
Harang worked 204 1/3 innings in 2014 and sees no reason why he can’t match that total this year.
“This was just muscular,” he said. “I woke up the other morning and just kind of moved around and grabbed on me for a second. It’s being precautious. There’s no reason to push this because you don’t want it to linger.”
