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. Arraez has no history of cramping in his career. But the club had a long inning in the bottom of the third, with the 29-year-old spending a lot of that inning running the bases.
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. A win would put them just three games behind the Atlanta Braves for the division lead.
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly or Luis Arraez should provide an update on the cramping issues following the game against the Cardinals.
Phillies Get Luis Arraez Injury Update During Cardinals Game