Ranger Suárez Dominates Again: Phillies Ace Extends Historic Scoreless Streak

Philadelphia left-hander Ranger Suárez is making another mid-summer charge, and the timing could not be better for a Phillies club chasing its third straight postseason berth. The 29-year-old improved to 8-2 with a sparkling 1.99 ERA after five workmanlike innings in a 5-1 win over Cincinnati on July 5, a performance that solidified his case for a second consecutive National League All-Star selection. Key numbers jump off the page for SEO-minded readers and fantasy managers alike: Suárez owns an MLB-best 1.23 ERA since returning from an early-season back strain on May 10, and opponents are batting just .208 against him in that span. While his sinker velocity dipped during a June 29 start in Atlanta—raising whispers about shoulder fatigue—the Phillies deployed a strict 80-pitch cap against the Reds, and Suárez’s four-seam fastball ticked back up to 91 mph, nearly matching his season norm. Manager Rob Thomson confirmed the plan was preventative, not reactive, aiming to avoid last year’s late-season regression that followed a heavy first-half workload. The guards-up approach continues this week: Suárez is slated for one extra day of rest before taking the ball Saturday at Citizens Bank Park against the Angels, where he’ll duel two-time MVP Mike Trout. Philadelphia’s rotation depth has been tested all year, but the trio of Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, and Suárez has quietly delivered the NL’s second-best starter ERA since June 1. A healthy Suárez would not only anchor the stretch-run rotation but also reshape the trade-deadline calculus for president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. Beyond the traditional stats, advanced metrics tell the same story. Suárez’s 58.7 percent ground-ball rate ranks third in the majors, and his minus-4.1° average launch angle allowed makes Citizens Bank’s short porch far less intimidating. He’s also featuring a revamped cutter that hitters are batting .167 against, a wrinkle that neutralizes right-handed power threats like Trout and Taylor Ward. Fantasy takeaway: With a WHIP under 1.00, two favorable matchups on the horizon (LAA, @MIA), and possible two-start weeks coming out of the All-Star break, Suárez should be rostered in all formats and started with confidence. What to watch next: • All-Star announcements Sunday night—Suárez is widely projected to grab one of the final rotation spots. • Velocity readings in Saturday’s outing; anything 90-92 mph is a green light. • Phillies’ deadline shopping list; a healthy Suárez could shift focus from starting pitching to bullpen depth. For now, the Venezuelan southpaw remains one of baseball’s stealth aces, and as Philadelphia eyes another Red October, his health—and his sinker—might just be the franchise’s most valuable assets.