Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Vincent Velasquez left Wednesday's game against the Chicago Cubs after just two pitches with a biceps injury, and it is uncertain when he will return to action.
Continue for updates.
Velasquez to Undergo Further Testing
Wednesday, June 8
Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reported Velasquez will be re-evaluated on Thursday, adding it could include an MRI.
Velasquez Comments on Injury
Wednesday, June 8
Velasquez told reporters he "isn't worried" about his injured biceps.
Velasquez Has Emerged as Bright Spot for Surprising Phillies
A revelation early in the season, Velasquez has come back to earth a bit in recent starts. He began the season by posting wins in four of his first five starts but was 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over his last six heading into Wednesday. This was his fourth consecutive start not lasting through the fifth inning.
Overall, Velasquez is 5-2 with a 3.65 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. He's second behind Aaron Nola on the Phillies with 73 strikeouts.
Given his recent struggles, perhaps a little rest could do Velasquez some good. As Jayson Stark of ESPN.com noted, there have long been concerns about his ability to stay healthy. Leaving after two pitches is concerning, especially if he did not feel any issues in pregame warm-ups.
The Phillies don't have an especially deep array of talent on their roster, so this injury may just accelerate what feels like an inevitable summer swoon. They've lost nine of their last 12 games coming into Wednesday, undoing nearly all of their feel-good vibes from the first month of the season.
Velasquez, the leader of those good feelings, going down may only serve as the final death knell.
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