JT Realmuto Could Be Back This Weekend; Updates on Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suarez – NBC Sports Philadelphia

PITTSBURGH — Rob Thomson said before the All-Star break that JT Realmuto was more likely to return for the Phillies’ second series than the first, but now it appears their starting catcher could be activated as early as Saturday at PNC Park.

“I’m not sure yet, but he’s getting very, very close,” Thomson said ahead of the Phillies’ season opener against the Pirates on Friday night.

Friday is a recovery day for Realmuto, who continued his rehabilitation in Clearwater over the All-Star break. There’s no final box he can check, it’s just a matter of how his body responds.

If Realmuto is activated, the Phillies will likely send catcher Rafael Marchan back to Triple-A. Marchan has played very well in Realmuto’s absence, going 15-for-51 (.294) with four doubles and three home runs while playing solid defense. The 25-year-old appears primed to be a big reserve, but may have to wait until 2025 to fill that role. The Phillies would likely prefer to have him play every day in Triple-A rather than have him start once or twice a week in the majors while Stubbs is still on the roster.

Realmuto has been out with a knee injury since the Phillies returned from London on June 9. He had been bothered by pain in his right meniscus since the first week of May and underwent a meniscectomy on June 12.

The Phillies have gone 17-14 in the games Realmuto has missed.

Rotation updates

Zack Wheeler (back spasms) and Ranger Suarez (back soreness) are both making progress and should fit back into the Phillies’ rotation in Minnesota after the game in Pittsburgh.

Both threw 120 feet on Friday, with Suarez throwing a flat-ground session. Suarez will throw a bullpen session on Saturday, and the Phillies will decide who starts Monday and who starts Tuesday.

“I’m confident he’ll be fine, but we’ll see tomorrow,” Thomson said of Suarez.

The Phillies start Aaron Nola on Friday night, Cristopher Sanchez on Saturday night and Tyler Phillips on Sunday afternoon. They won’t face rookie sensation Paul Skenes in the series. The Pirates have soft-tossing veteran lefties going in the opener (Martin Perez) and the finale (Marco Gonzales), with middle-of-the-road right-hander Luis L. Ortiz pitching Saturday.