Phillies’ Brandon Marsh put on injured list with hamstring strain, hopes for ‘pretty quick turnaround’

Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh, who was injured while running the bases in the eighth inning of Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, the team announced on Monday.

Marsh, who spoke to the media on Monday afternoon, said he first felt the injury while he was running to first base on his leadoff single, then came out after reaching second on a Nick Castellanos single. It’s unclear what his timetable is, but he and the Phillies are hopeful it won’t be long.

“I felt it right around first [base] right there,” Marsh said. “And [I] decided to stay in, and pushed it a little bit, and felt it rounding second and then alerted the guys and they came out.”

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He added: “It’s a little early right now [to put a timeline on it]. We’re still trying to treat it and assess it right now so no timetable, but looking for a pretty quick turnaround.”

Manager Rob Thomson characterized the strain as “mild.” He expects Cristian Pache, David Dahl, who was called up from triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday, and Whit Merrifield to share the bulk of playing time in Marsh’s spot. Thomson said he’ll take the left field spot “day by day,” but added that matchups will play into whether Pache, Dahl, or Merrifield is playing that day.

He’s hoping that Merrifield will benefit from the extra playing time. The utility man is batting .176/.257/.275 with 11 strikeouts and 11 walks through 31 games.

“I’m hoping to get Whit going,” Thomson said. “And the only way you get going is by playing and getting reps. So this is maybe an opportunity to get him some more playing time.”

The Phillies have largely avoided injuries — with the exception of shortstop Trea Turner (hamstring) — but weathered two on Sunday. Infielder Kody Clemens was placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Friday) with lower back spasms on Monday.

In addition to Dahl, the Phillies recalled utility man Weston Wilson from Lehigh Valley on Monday.

Wilson had a slow start to his minor league season but has been heating up of late. The 29-year-old has hit seven home runs since May 1 and hit .240/.308/.452, with a .760 OPS in that month.

Dahl, a 30-year-old who has played 331 games over six major league seasons, has hit .340/.416/.660 with a 1.076 OPS for Lehigh Valley. He was in the lineup for Monday’s series opener against the Brewers, batting seventh and playing left field.

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“He’s been swinging the bat very well,” Thomson said of Dahl. “He’s hitting home runs, he’s getting on base. Playing OK defensively. We’ll see what he’s got.”

Marsh and Thomson are taking solace in the fact that the Phillies have encountered significant injuries in the past, only to see players step up. When Turner went down, Edmundo Sosa filled in for him, and has hit .304/.373/.576 with four home runs. When Taijuan Walker started the season on the IL, Spencer Turnbull pitched to a 1.67 ERA in his stead.

They are hopeful something similar will happen now.

“That’s kind of the way this club has been for the last couple of years,” Thomson said. “Somebody goes down and somebody steps up. And does well. And I’m expecting the same. I don’t know who it’s going to be. But I’m expecting the same thing to happen.”

Ranger Suárez, who was hit in the left thumb by as 106.1 mph line drive on Saturday, will likely not need an IL stint, Thomson said.

“He’s feeling better again today,” Thomson said of Suárez. “He’s going to play catch [Tuesday]. And throw a bullpen the next day. And we’ll know then when he can start.”

Shortstop Trea Turner (left hamstring strain) will accompany the team to London this week; Marsh and Clemens will not.

“Trea is doing baseball activity, so he can continue that,” Thomson said. “Clem and Marsh for the time being will just be shut down.”

Turner ran again on Monday, took ground balls, and hit off of the Trajekt pitching machine in the batting cage. It’s possible he begins a rehab assignment when the Phillies get back from London.

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