After missing the first month of the season with lower back stiffness, Ranger Suarez is set to return to the starting rotation for the Phillies this Sunday. It will be his first start since being on the bump against the Mets in Game 4 of last year’s NLDS, when Philadelphia was eliminated from the postseason.
In Ranger’s absence, the Phillies rotation has continued where they left off last year to still be one of the best in baseball. So far in 2025, they’re fifth in ERA, eighth in WHIP, first in K/9, and ninth in BB/9.
Outside of Aaron Nola (5.40 ERA), each arm has been above average in giving the team a chance to win every time they’ve taken the mound. Even Taijuan Walker, who fans have been critical of for not performing up to his contract since he’s been in a Phillies uniform, has been good as the fifth starter. He has a 2.54 ERA through his first six starts (28.1 IP) of the season.
So now with Ranger coming back, what should the Phillies do about their rotation? One option is to go with a six-man rotation, which manager Rob Thomson has said they have discussed in recent days. Another possibility is to move either Walker or Suarez to the bullpen.
Phillies relief pitching could use some help as they've had a poor start to the season, ranking 26th in ERA & 27th in H/9. Ranger has more experience and success in the role, but hired big-time agent Scott Boras in the off-season, which might affect how Ranger is used, being he’s in a contract year.
Walker is being paid $18 million a year to be a starter and has had a strong start to the season. In theory it might make sense to move one of them to the pen, but the business side of baseball makes that a tougher decision than one might like to think.
It’s not the worst problem to have if you are Rob Thomson. With Ranger back, that adds to the depth of the rotation, as well as potentially the bullpen. Maybe Thomson decides to go with a six-man rotation.
Or maybe with the bullpen’s early struggles, he will give the green light to either Walker or Suarez to become a reliever. Who knows when that decision will come, but it will be an interesting one that Topper has to make.