J.T. Realmuto likely back before end of Marlins series; Jhoan Duran not far behind

MIAMI — As if things weren’t already looking up for the Phillies after back-to-back extra-inning walk-off wins in a doubleheader sweep Thursday, they’re about to get their star catcher back, too.

J.T. Realmuto, sidelined since April 22 by back spasms, went through an on-field workout here Friday, one day before he’s eligible to be reinstated from the injured list. It’s likely he will return before the end of the four-game series against the Marlins.

“I think we’ve got probably a pretty good chance of seeing J.T. as long as he keeps responding well and coming back from everything,” interim manager Don Mattingly said. “They’re adding stuff for him every day. As long as that’s good, I think he will.”

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Star closer Jhoan Duran isn’t far behind Realmuto, but probably won’t return in the Marlins series.

Duran, dealing with a strained oblique muscle in his left side, will throw another bullpen session Saturday. Mattingly didn’t rule out having Duran make a minor-league appearance, or facing hitters in live batting practice, before returning to the Phillies’ bullpen.

“Those are not guys that I’m wanting to push back,” Mattingly said of Realmuto and Duran. “I’d rather have it a day or two late than be a day too early.”

Entering play Friday, Realmuto started 785 out of 1,064 games for the Phillies since coming over in a trade from the Marlins in February 2019. But the iron-man catcher has been banged-up so far this season.

Realmuto took a foul ball off his right foot April 7 in San Francisco and another in the same spot a few days later. He has missed nine games since his back flared during a series at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

After a 1-for-12 start to the season, Realmuto was 13-for-42 (.310) with two doubles and a home run in his last 13 games. The Phillies are seeking more production from their right-handed hitters, notably Alec Bohm, Adolis García, and eventually, Realmuto.

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Mattingly, hired as the Phillies bench coach in January before replacing fired manager Rob Thomson this week, was reunited with Realmuto this season after managing him with the Marlins, including the catcher’s first All-Star season at age 27 in 2018.

All these years later, Mattingly still believes Realmuto can hold up to a heavy workload behind the plate.

“He’s kind of the same, honestly,“ Mattingly said. ”He looks great, still moving good. Obviously he’s got some miles on him from catching and getting older as a catcher, but other than that, I mean, J.T. looks great.”

Trea Turner wasn’t in the lineup for the first time this season. Mattingly said it was a planned breather for the shortstop after the doubleheader.

With the unforgiving turf at loanDepot Park, Mattingly said he’s hopeful of giving most of the regulars a day off during the four-game series.

“We’re a roster that is getting a little older,” Mattingly said. “I’m not saying guys are old. But I think a day off here and there is not going to hurt anybody. And it keeps our bench playing, so it just keeps everybody involved.”

Edmundo Sosa started at shortstop in place of Turner.

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In order to split up their two lefties and give struggling Aaron Nola extra time between starts, the Phillies are shuffling their starting rotation.

Jesús Luzardo, a South Florida native who pitched 3½ seasons for his hometown Marlins, will face his former team Sunday in what would’ve been Nola’s spot.

Nola, who gave up 11 runs in nine innings over his last two starts against the Cubs and Braves, will throw an additional bullpen session before starting Monday night. Cristopher Sánchez, who had been slotted after fellow lefty Luzardo, will start at home Tuesday night against the Athletics.

Chase Shugart was credited with the win in both games Thursday. He’s the first pitcher to get two wins on the same day since the Twins’ Brian Duensing on Aug. 9, 2013. Shugart, acquired from the Pirates in January for 18-year-old infielder Francisco Loreto, has been a nice find. He has a 1.00 ERA and nine strikeouts in nine appearances since getting called up from triple A. … Veteran reliever Lou Trivino, who had a 2.77 ERA in 10 triple-A appearances, exercised his May 1 opt-out clause and was granted his release. Trivino grew up in Montgomery County and played in high school at Upper Bucks Christian and in college at Slippery Rock. … Andrew Painter (1-2, 5.25 ERA) is scheduled to start at 4:10 p.m. Saturday against Marlins righty Max Meyer (1-0, 3.30).

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Hunter Pence's 368-day stint with the Phillies was a study in extremes. Acquired at the trade deadline in 2011 as the missing right-handed bat for a World Series contender, he got dealt a year later by an underachieving team. And with the Phillies in full-on crisis mode this week, Pence sits down with "Phillies Extra," the Inquirer's baseball podcast, to discuss how quickly a team's fortunes can change. Watch here.

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Previous episodes: Paco Figueroa | Gage Wood | Scott Boras | Brian Barber | Aaron Nola | Justin Crawford | Garrett Stubbs | Kyle Schwarber | Brad Keller | J.T.Realmuto