Injured Phillies reliever Archie Bradley hopes to return within two weeks

Signed to pitch in the late innings of close games, he has been out since April 11 with a strained muscle in his left side. Since then, 12 of the Phillies’ 24 games have been decided by one run.

Phillies reliever Archie Bradley (left) believes he will be ready to return from the injured list when the team returns to Citizens Bank Park on May 18.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer

by Scott Lauber

Published May 6, 2021, 1:35 p.m. ET

If watching the Phillies lately has churned your stomach, imagine being Archie Bradley.

Signed as a free agent to pitch in the late innings of close games, Bradley went on the injured list April 11 with a strained oblique muscle in his left side. Since then, 12 of the Phillies’ 24 games have been decided by one run, including seven in a row entering Thursday’s sweep-completing 2-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Citizens Bank Park. Their record in those one-run games: 7-5.

“It has been really tough, man,” Bradley said Thursday. “I was brought here to pitch and help us win. I’ve been sitting inside watching a lot of games go by where I would’ve been a huge part in these games. I’m one player, and we’ve done a great job. But I definitely think I make a difference.”

Bradley believes he’s getting closer to a return. He intends to go to triple-A Lehigh Valley this weekend to begin throwing bullpen sessions. A minor-league rehab assignment would follow. And barring a setback, he said he expects to be ready to rejoin the Phillies by May 18, when they return from a nine-game, 10-day, three-city road trip.

If not for a head cold that knocked him out for four days last week, Bradley figures he might be back by now. He didn’t have a fever and tested negative twice for COVID-19. But because of Major League Baseball’s health and safety regulations, he had to stay away from the team until he went through testing protocols.

“Realistically it probably set me back about a week,” Bradley said. “I probably could’ve been ready for this road trip had I not got sick. I may be speaking too soon, but in my head, as long as everything goes well this week while the team is away, I should be looking at a return when we get back.”

Bradley remains unsure how he got injured. He gave up one run in 1⅓ innings April 7 against the New York Mets, then allowed one run on two hits and recorded only one out in an April 10 appearance at Atlanta. After not feeling well during that game, he reported the discomfort in his side to the training staff.

It’s also not clear whether the oblique strain accounts for a dip in Bradley’s fastball velocity. It’s not uncommon for a pitcher to build velocity as the season goes along. Bradley’s fastball has averaged 93.0 mph, down from 94.2 mph last season and 95.5 mph in 2019.

Segura’s back, Harper getting close

The Phillies reinstated second baseman Jean Segura from the injured list after Thursday’s game and optioned outfielder Mickey Moniak to Lehigh Valley. Segura likely will be in the lineup Friday night in Atlanta after missing 15 games with a strained right quadriceps.

Bryce Harper sat out a fourth consecutive game — and for the seventh time in eight games — with a sore left wrist. But he took batting practice indoors and felt “pretty good,” according to manager Joe Girardi. It’s possible he could also return Friday night.

Romero to injured list

Lefty reliever JoJo Romero reported soreness in his elbow after allowing one run on two hits and a walk in the fifth inning Wednesday night. The Phillies placed him on the 10-day injured list and called up lefty Ranger Suárez from Lehigh Valley.

Romero’s velocity appeared to be down in Wednesday night’s game. His fastball averaged 94.4 mph, a decrease from 96.4 mph one night earlier and 96.8 mph Sunday night against the New York Mets, although Girardi noted that at least one of his pitches registered 97 mph.

Suárez pitched only four innings last season because of COVID-19. He was slowed by visa issues in spring training before reporting to the alternate site in Lehigh Valley last month.

Extra bases

The Phillies finished their first four-game sweep of the Brewers since July 7-10, 2014, in Milwaukee and their first at home since Sept. 11-14, 2008. ... Eighteen of the Phillies’ next 24 games are on the road, where they are 4-9 this season and 80-123 since the start of the 2018 season. ... Zach Eflin is scheduled to start Friday night against Braves right-hander Charlie Morton.