Spate of hamstring injuries has Phillies examining how they prepare players

NEW YORK -- Within a three-day span last week, the Phillies placed three players on the injured list with hamstring strains.

Coincidence?

For now, at least, manager Gabe Kapler is inclined to think so. But Kapler acknowledged that the Phillies reacted to the injuries to center fielder Odubel Herrera, shortstop Jean Segura ,and infielder Scott Kingery by reviewing their practices to determine if they need to adjust them to ward off future hamstring problems.

“Any time things go wrong, you go back and say, ‘OK, what can we do different? What might we have missed here? Are we not stretching the back of the legs enough? What’s causing this particular soft-tissue injury?’ ” Kapler said. “We examine hydration. We examine warmups. We examine workloads and volumes and we pick it apart and tear [stuff] up, and it’s not always a fun process. But you do it anyhow.

“I think in this particular case, what we’ve found is our practices are similar to last year with some minor tweaks. And we didn’t have the hamstring stuff [last year].”

Segura, who likely will be ready to play once he’s eligible Saturday, was injured when he decelerated to home plate while scoring a run last Monday night. Kingery, who probably will miss more time, got hurt in a similar fashion as he slowed up on the way to first base on a single last Friday night in Colorado.

Strength and conditioning coach Paul Fournier told Kapler that it isn’t uncommon for hamstring injuries to occur in the deceleration phase.

Herrera’s injury occurred when he tracked a line drive in center field last Wednesday. He initially reported feeling a cramp, but the injury was diagnosed as a hamstring strain. He’s “kind of on track,” according to Kapler, but the Phillies are not yet sure he will be ready to return after the minimum 10-day period on the injured list expires Sunday.

So, is there a common denominator for the three injuries?

“I’m not sure we have the answer,” Kapler said. “But what it does is provide an opportunity to go back and really dig in and examine our practices. I think it’s worth looking at.”

Reliever Victor Arano (right elbow inflammation) returned to Philadelphia and will be seen by team physicians Michael Ciccotti and Steven Cohen within the next couple of days.

Arano will get an ultrasound and possibly an MRI. Kapler said over the weekend that Arano’s injury stemmed from a massage during the Phillies’ recent trip to Miami.

The Phillies switched out relievers, recalling Edubray Ramos from triple-A and optioning lefty Austin Davis, who gave up three hits and two walks in two scoreless innings Sunday in Colorado. “We would like Austin Davis to give us the confidence that he can put the ball in the zone when he wants to put the ball in the zone,” Kapler said. “It’s a challenge for him.” Kapler highlighted a three-pitch strikeout of lefty-hitting Rockies outfielder David Dahl as an example of Davis’ upside. ... Zach Eflin (2-2, 3.68 ERA) is scheduled to face Mets right-hander Zack Wheeler (1-2, 6.35) on Tuesday night.