The Philadelphia Phillies desperately need Ranger Suarez to regain the form the left-hander showed earlier this season.
Following back-to-back subpar performances, Suarez gets the ball for the Phillies on Monday when they open a three-game home series with the Seattle Mariners.
Suarez (8-6, 3.28 ERA) looked like an All-Star during the first half of the season but the second half has been a different story. He has given up 11 runs and 19 hits in 11 2/3 innings over his last two outings, as the Phillies have lost those games by a combined margin of 11-2.
“I felt good,” Suarez said after Tuesday’s 6-1 loss to the host Cincinnati Reds. “I felt better than last time out. Overall, I felt better.”
Another matter is Suarez’s interactions with the umpires, which Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson noted was a bit disappointing during the loss to Cincinnati.
“I think because of his last few outings, he wants to do well, and maybe he’s just off a little bit,” Thomson said. “He’s got to shut that (behavior) down.”
Suarez has only faced Seattle once — back in 2022 — and pitched six scoreless innings in winning that contest 9-0.
On Monday, he will be taking on a Mariners squad that has lost four of its last five games. Most recently, Seattle fell to the New York Mets 7-3 on Sunday evening in the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa.
Starter George Kirby dug his team into an early hole, allowing seven runs and 12 hits over 4 2/3 innings. The offensive highlight for the Mariners was Cal Raleigh’s league-leading 47th home run, much to the delight of the Little Leaguers in attendance.
“Obviously we didn’t get the result that we wanted, but what a great event. I know our guys talked a lot about being able to visit with those guys and the players today,” Seattle manager Dan Wilson said. “Just from beginning to end, I thought it was a great event and just grateful that we would be able to be a part of it.”
Meanwhile, the Phillies are coming off a disappointing series in Washington. They lost two of their first three against the Nationals before coming away with an 11-9 victory — and a series split — on Sunday.
Right-hander Aaron Nola squandered a 6-0 lead in his return from the injured list, but Weston Wilson and Nick Castellanos delivered big hits to help the visitors ultimately prevail.
Another bright spot for the Phillies was the return of third baseman Alec Bohm (rib), who homered in his first game since July 18.
“Yeah, (that felt good), especially not being here for a while,” Bohm said. “It feels really good to contribute and help the team win a game. Happy to be back, happy to be healthy.”
Bohm and company will now take aim at Logan Gilbert (3-4, 3.31), who went 6 1/3 innings against host Baltimore in his last start on Wednesday. The right-hander allowed two runs and four hits in that one, although he still has recorded only one win over his last nine starts as the Orioles won 4-3.
Gilbert has faced Philadelphia once in each of the last three seasons, posting an 0-2 record with a 5.06 ERA in 16 innings over the three starts.