The Philadelphia Phillies lost second baseman Luis Arraez for their game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Arraez was pulled in the fourth inning and replaced by Bryson Stott at second base.
Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports that Arraez was pulled from the game due to lower body cramps.
That’s good news for the Phillies, as their second baseman avoids any serious injury. Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly told Phillies Nation’s Ty Daubert that Arraez has a history of lower body cramping in his career.
The club had a long inning in the bottom of the third, with the 29-year-old spending a lot of that inning on the bases. The Phillies wound up scoring four runs in the frame to blow open the game.
Luis Arraez Leaves Phillies Game With Lower Body Cramps
Luis Arraez has been a huge addition to the Phillies lineup. Since the trade, he’s hitting .310 with two home runs and a .789 OPS. His .322 batting average leads all MLB hitters, as he seeks his fourth batting title in the last five seasons.
At the time of injury, the Phillies led the Cardinals 7-0. It’s possible that, due to the lopsided score, the club felt more comfortable resting the veteran second baseman instead of pushing him.
Arraez’s addition to the lineup required the Phillies to make major defensive changes. Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm, and Bryce Harper all changed positions to accommodate the four-time All-Star hitter. Other than Harper playing right field, the club has a stronger defensive infield.
But the results have been undeniable. The team is currently riding a seven-game winning streak and has scored 46 runs in that stretch. They’re on their way to closing what seemed like an insurmountable deficit in the National League East.
An eight-game winning streak, plus some help from the Milwaukee Brewers, has put them just three games behind the Atlanta Braves for the division lead.
What’s Next for Luis Arraez
It’s unclear what the Phillies will do with Luis Arraez. It may depend on how he shows up to Citizens Bank Park ahead of the series finale against the Cardinals. All eyes will be on whether Arraez is in the lineup.
Further injuries on the infield concerning Alec Bohm could complicate matters on the infield. Mattingly revealed after the game that Bohm is dealing with hamstring/groin cramping. It hasn’t affected his hitting, but it mostly shows up stretching for throws at first base.
The Phillies lineup could take a different change in the Cardinals series finale. It’s not unusual for that approach for a Sunday game at the end of a series or homestand.
If Bohm and Arraez sit out against the Cardinals, that could mean a start for Edmundo Sosa, Bryson Stott, and Bryce Harper on the infield. The Phillies face right-hander Kyle Leahy, as they aim to extend their season-best winning streak to nine games.
Phillies Get Luis Arraez Injury Update During Cardinals Game