The Philadelphia Phillies wrapped up a relatively uneventful spring training — and in this case, that’s a positive. As they head out of Clearwater toward their Opening Day matchup in Washington, the team is mostly healthy.
The only notable injury concerns ahead of the 2025 season involved pitchers Matt Strahm and Ranger Suárez. However, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, both appear to be making solid progress and may be available when the season begins.
Strahm and Suárez Trending Toward Readiness
On Saturday in Clearwater, both pitchers took part in throwing sessions. Strahm faced off against Toronto Blue Jays minor leaguers, striking out all three batters he faced while allowing just one double, per The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Lochlahn March. He also debuted a new pitch — a changeup — and the outing was considered a success. If he stays on track, Strahm should be ready for Opening Day.
Suárez, dealing with back tightness, played catch on Saturday and was scheduled to throw again Sunday, according to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. The Phillies plan to reassess him after that session to determine whether he’s ready or if he’ll need to start the season on the injured list. Thanks to some early-season off days, the team may opt to temporarily skip his spot in the rotation if he’s not fully healthy.
Former Phillies Pitchers Land with Braves
Two familiar faces from Philadelphia’s past have found a new home with division rival Atlanta. The Braves announced that Enyel De Los Santos and Héctor Neris both made the team’s Opening Day roster.
De Los Santos had brief stints with the Phillies between 2018 and 2021 before moving on to other clubs. His solid spring helped him secure a bullpen role with Atlanta.
Neris, once a staple of Philadelphia’s bullpen from 2015 to 2021, joined the Braves on a minor league deal in March. Despite appearing in just two games during spring training, he impressed enough to earn a spot on the 26-man roster.
