PHILADELPHIA — Didi Gregorius does not appear headed to the injured list, the Phillies’ shortstop working out fully Tuesday before a scheduled game with Washington.
Gregorius has been bothered by his left knee much of the season. A sprain landed him on the IL in May, and he had an injection of a lubricant Saturday, missing the last two games of the St. Louis series.
But after Monday’s off day, he underwent a full workout, taking grounders and hitting. Manager Rob Thomson said he might have been able to play Tuesday, but he’s taking a cautious approach.
“I think he’s going to be ready to play tomorrow,” Thomson said. “He’s going to do a full workout today. Probably could’ve played today, I think, depending on the workout, but we just want to make sure he’s ready to go.”
Gregorius was accompanied during his workout by a much anticipated middle-infield mate. Jean Segura had the pins in his fractured right index finger removed last week. He was out during BP working on his “range of motion,” Thomson said. That meant taking ground balls but being unable to throw.
Much like the other fractured-finger starter Bryce Harper, there’s no timeline on Segura. When he broke the finger on a bunt attempt June 1, the team put a 10-12 week number on it.
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Ranger Suarez (low back spasms) is feeling “much better,” per Thomson. But there’s no time frame to return. Suarez was placed on the 15-day IL retroactive to June 30, though Thomson wouldn’t say if he’s hoping to have the lefty back before the All-Star break.
The other ailing starter, Zach Eflin (knee), played catch Tuesday. He’s being re-evaluated for his recovery from a cortisone shot last week.
“If there’s no pain,” Thomson said, “then we’re not too far away from getting him on the mound.”
That opens a chance for Cristopher Sanchez, who started Tuesday. Thomson is pleased by what he’s seen from the lefty, both at the big club (0-1 with a 4.60 ERA in eight appearances) and at Triple-A Lehigh Valley (1-0, 2.25 ERA over 20 innings).
“He’s getting both left- and right-handed hitters out, changeup’s been really effective for him, low walk rate, strikeouts have been good … soft contact,” Thomson said. “It’s good. He’s got a real slow heartbeat, it seems like. When he’s out on the mound, everything’s pretty calm.”
Sanchez is stretched out to about 80 pitches, Thomson added.
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NOTES >> Reliever Connor Brogdon is back in Philadelphia, though remains on COVID IL, having spent 10 days in quarantine in a San Diego hotel. He said he had only one day of symptoms but still lost three pounds from inactivity. Brogdon arrived in Philadelphia Monday and played catch, then was scheduled for a bullpen Tuesday before a decision on reactivation. … Thomson has gotten good reports about lefty JoJo Romero, who has reached Triple-A in his rehab assignment from Tommy John surgery 14 months ago. The power lefty had a 7.32 ERA over 23 appearances (19.2 IP) in the bigs in 2020 and 2021. He’s got a 2.08 ERA in 8.2 innings over four levels in his rehab stint. “Velocity is good,” Thomson said. … Aaron Nola (5-5, 3.13 ERA) will toe the rubber in Game 2 Wednesday, opposed by Josiah Gray (6-5, 4.22). The Nationals had yet to name a Thursday starter to oppose Bailey Falter (0-2, 4.88).