Are the Philadelphia Phillies dealing with All-Star reliever’s injury scare?

Will the Philadelphia Phillies’ top player be at his best heading into Saturday’s playoff game?

Manager Rob Thomson told reporters on Wednesday, telling Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer that All-Star Jeff Hoffman missed today’s simulated game due to “slight neck stiffness.”

Notes on today’s simulation game:
– Ended in a 5-5 draw
– Hoffman did not pitch because he came into the game with a “bit of a stiff neck.” Thomson said they held him back out of an abundance of caution and he will be fine Saturday
– Castellanos & Harper hit back-to-back HRs against Banks. Wilson hits HR against Allard

— Alex Coffey (@byalexcoffey) October 2, 2024

Hoffman was kept out of practice as a precaution, but Thomson said the substitute will be “fine” to start the playoffs. The Phillies will face the winner of the New York Mets-Milwaukee Brewers Wild Card series in the NLDS.

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Hoffman became an All-Star for the first time in his career in 2024 and finished the season with the eighth-best ERA (2.17) among National League relievers with at least 60 innings pitched.

Hoffman will be a free agent after the season. Matt Gelb of the Athletic reports that the Phillies are interested in bringing back the reliever.

“It’s everything I could have dreamed of,” Hoffman told The Athletic. “You know the team will be good. They know the owner wants to win. They know that the staff are completely behind the boys. The training staff is A-1. It’s just a really good situation. If I want to play another four or five years, whatever it may be, I feel like this is the place where I can stay healthy enough to do that. And then every year I’m here I have the chance to win.”

Hoffman joined the Phillies in 2023 after denying Bryce Harper — who was preparing to return from injury — batting practice in late April. Hoffman was so impressive that the Phillies decided to bring him up from the minors and he became a revelation. In 52 1/3 innings last year, Hoffman posted 69 strikeouts and a 2.41 ERA.

He has become Thomson’s most trusted aid.

Good news for Ranger Suarez

Thomson had a positive update on starter Ranger Suarez, who struggled greatly in the second half of the season. The manager said he saw “huge improvement” for Suarez after he pitched two innings in the simulated game.

“I think so, you never know. When we talked to Caleb we both felt really good. It came out of his hand really well, the movement was there, the curveball was sharp. Reassured me” – Rob Thomson on Ranger Suarez today

— PHLY Phillies (@PHLY_Phillies) October 2, 2024

“It came out of his hand really well, the movement was there, the curveball was sharp. Reassured me,” Thomson said via PHLY Sports.

Suarez, a first-time All-Star in 2024, was outright out after the break with a back injury that sidelined him for a month.

According to StatMuse, Suarez had a 6.54 ERA in 11 starts since June 30. During that span, he gave up four or more earned runs in six games.

For the Phillies to be successful in the playoffs, Suarez will have to be at his best. As it stands right now, Suarez could only be good in the lineup once before being pulled.

First pitch for Game 1 of the NLDS is scheduled for Saturday, October 5th at 4:08 p.m.

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