Ranger Suárez allows six runs in two innings vs. Nationals

WASHINGTON — The Phillies hope this isn’t the version of Ranger Suárez they will be getting in the postseason.

Because this recent version is concerning.

Suárez allowed six runs in two innings in Friday night’s 9-1 loss to the Nats at Nationals Park. He lacked command and velocity from the very first batter he faced, grinding through a 42-pitch first inning against a team that had scored a combined four runs in its previous four games, and had scored one or fewer runs in seven of its previous 10.

Friday was Suárez’s final start of the 2024 regular season. His next start could be Game 4 of the National League Division Series, assuming Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Cristopher Sánchez start the first three games of the best-of-five series.

A few months ago, the idea of Suárez starting Game 4 in any series would have been a display of one of baseball’s best rotations. The left-hander has been one of the Phillies’ best postseason performers the past two years, going 3-1 with a 1.62 ERA and one save in nine appearances (seven starts). But he is just 2-3 with a 5.74 ERA (20 earned runs in 31 1/3 innings) in seven starts since he rejoined the rotation on Aug. 24 following a month-long stint on the injured list because of a bad back.

Suárez just hasn’t looked like the same pitcher.

Suárez was 10-2 with a 1.83 ERA in 16 starts through June 25, pushing him onto his first NL All-Star team. But he showed signs of regression in four starts before he landed on the IL in late July, going 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA from June 30 through July 22.

He hasn’t pitched six innings in a start since July 12. He hasn’t had a quality start since June 25.

Suárez acknowledged last weekend that he had been holding back a bit because of his back, which might have affected his use of his lower half.

A hypothetical Game 4 of the NLDS will be on the road on Oct. 9.

It leaves Suárez 12 days to figure it out.