JT Realmuto returns, Ranger Suarez, Zack Wheeler ready to go in Minnesota – NBC Sports Philadelphia

PITTSBURGH — The first day of the All-Star break did not go well for the Phillies, who twice blew three-run leads, stranded 11 baserunners and lost via walk-off to the Pirates on Friday night.

Day 2 started much better. The Phillies activated JT Realmuto from the injured list after he missed 32 games with a meniscectomy on his right knee. He was back in the lineup Saturday, batting fifth.

Realmuto played more than a month with a meniscus injury and had his weakest season as a Phillie when he underwent surgery on June 12. Still, he’s a threat to opposing pitchers and helps lengthen the Phils’ lineup by one spot by replacing a bottom-of-the-order hitter with a middle-of-the-order hitter.

Rafael Marchan was sent to Triple A to make room on the roster for Realmuto. Marchan played very well in his month-plus in the bigs, going 15-for-51 (.294) with four doubles and three home runs.

Garrett Stubbs remains the backup catcher.

“He played really well. He showed us everything we needed to see. He’s a big player,” manager Rob Thomson said of the 25-year-old Marchan. “But he’s got to play, he’s got to play every day and we just thought that was the smart thing to do. Stubby’s done a great job as well, he’s been with us for a few years, we know how important Stubby is in the dressing room. But Marchan’s got to play and that’s the most important thing.”

Ranger Suarez and Zack Wheeler return to the Phillies’ rotation in Minnesota. Suarez starts Monday night against the Twins, Wheeler goes Tuesday. Both were battling minor back injuries heading into the All-Star break. Wheeler cost him his final start before the break, and Suarez kept him out of the All-Star Game.

The Phillies will be cautious with their starters in the second half. This season is about winning it all, not putting multiple pitchers at the top of the innings leaderboard. The Phils had Aaron Nola on a 90- to 95-pitch limit Friday night, and it appears they will use a similar approach with the rest of their rotation in this first cycle.

Wheeler may not get as many pitches in his return. He threw 76 on July 9 and will have had two full weeks between starts when he takes the mound at Target Field. Suarez will get nine days of rest.