2024 Phillies All-Star Strahm May Open Season on Injured List

The rest of the National League East has been bitten by the injury bug this spring.  The Braves will start the season without Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuna, Jr.   The Mets will open the season without starters Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas and catcher Francisco Alvarez.  The Phillies are now facing their first significant injury of the year.

Reliever Matt Strahm, a 2024 National League All-Star, may not start the season active.

Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports that the Phillies will be cautious with Strahm, who has a left shoulder impingement:

An MRI exam recently revealed that Strahm has an impingement in his left shoulder, which has caused inflammation, irritation and a bone bruise. There is no structural damage, Strahm said, but it is enough of a concern that he will not throw until at least Thursday, when he will be examined by a Phillies physician.

Since it is only March, the Phillies appear to be ready to let Strahm take his time returning mount, Zolecki notes.

Without Strahm the Phillies still have two lefties in Jose Alvarado and Tanner Banks.

But that would leave one more opening in the bullpen.

Locks to the bullpen are Joe Ross, Jordan Romano, Orion Kerkering, Jose Ruiz, and the aforementioned Alvarado and Banks.  The Phillies were expected to have at least one spot up for grabs.  Now they may have two.

Taijuan Walker has had a good start to camp.  His velocity back that he could not seem to find in 2024, he could occupy one of the spots.

On the 40-man roster and in major league camp include Mick Abel, Seth Johnson, Michael Mercado, Tyler Phillips, Alan Rangel, Devin Sweet, and Kyle Tyler.

The Phillies still have plenty of non-roster arms looking to compete for jobs:  Koyo Aoyagi, Nabil Crismatt, Jose Cuas, Tristan Garnett, Joel Kohnel, John McMillon, Nicholas Padilla, Austin Schulfer, Nick Vespi, and Guillo Zuniga.

Crismatt, Cuas, Kuhnel, McMillon, Vespi, and Zuniga all have major league experience. Keep an eye on Vespi, the only lefty out of those with major league experience.

The Phillies have many options, but being down an All-Star lefty is not ideal.