Phillies Nuggets: Latest on Domínguez, Eflin and Wheeler

Ahead of their series opener against the Miami Marlins Tuesday, Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson issued a variety of updates.

• Zach Eflin (right knee) completed one up-down Tuesday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, pitching two innings. He threw 26 total pitches, with his fastball sitting between 93 and 94 mph. If Eflin feels good tomorrow, a rehab assignment could be the next step, Thomson said.

• As far as Eflin’s role should he return, Thomson seemed to believe he would start, although that doesn’t necessarily mean he would pitch the normal workload of a starter. This is just my guess, but perhaps he could start the game — because that’s what he’s always done in his career — and then be relieved by Suárez, who would pitch the largest chunk of innings in the game. Suárez has had success both as a starting pitcher and reliever, but has appeared to be running out of gas his last couple of outings. An Eflin/Suárez piggyback could be mutually beneficial.

• Just as he did with Eflin, Thomson described Seranthony Domínguez‘s simulated inning as “really good.” The hard-throwing reliever was throwing 95-96 mph, which Thomson called “really encouraging” as he comes back from right triceps tendinitis. The Phillies will see how the 27-year-old feels Wednesday, but a rehab stint may not be far off for the team’s best reliever. It sounds as though he may only need an outing or two in the minors before returning to the Phillies.

• Zack Wheeler (right forearm tendinitis), per Thomson, “felt fine” after playing catch Wednesday, throwing up to 60 feet. Thomson said Wheeler was going to meet with the training staff to formulate a plan on how to move forward. If things continue to progress, Wheeler may not need a rehab stint. However, before returning to the mound for the Phillies, Thomson said Wheeler would likely need to have “a couple of really solid bullpens,” which he estimated would take at least a week.

• The No. 1 focus with Bryce Harper continues to be making sure he’s available to hit for the 2022 Phillies. With that, the Phillies are not currently building him up to be able to throw. On Aug. 9, Thomson said that the Phillies were cutting back on Harper’s throwing program as he experienced some stiffness in his elbow. It’s unclear how Harper and the Phillies will proceed with the tear in his right UCL this offseason, an injury that has prevented him from playing in the outfield for a majority of the season. Thomson said that he is hoping that Harper will start throwing “at some point,” but there doesn’t appear to be any plans for when that would take place. Thomson said that will be a conversation that takes place with Harper and the doctors.

• Harper has pledged to play for Team USA in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, which begins on March 8. However, there’s nothing legally binding him to doing that if he ultimately has to undergo Tommy John surgery or another procedure to fix the tear in his UCL.

• Griff McGarry — the No. 3 prospect in the Phillies system — was promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley Monday. The 23-year-old gives the Phillies another option down the stretch should they need him, Thomson said Tuesday. Of course, if Domínguez, Wheeler and Eflin all return, the Phillies probably won’t need McGarry. Whether he pitches for the Phillies down the stretch of the regular season or not, McGarry would not be eligible to pitch in the postseason because he wasn’t on the 40-man roster by Sept. 1.

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