CHICAGO (AP) 鈥� The struggling Philadelphia Phillies placed catcher J.T. Realmuto on the 10-day injured list Wednesday because of back spasms.
Realmuto left to Atlanta with lower back tightness. He returned to the lineup Tuesday night against the Chicago Cubs, but his back started bothering him again.
鈥淗e’s sore, and it’s going to be a few days before he’s pain-free,鈥� manager Rob Thomson said. 鈥淪o that’s why we decided to put him on the IL. It’s just some inflammation. We think he’s going to be back at the 10-day mark.鈥�
After making the IL move with Realmuto, the Phillies struck out 12 times and failed to draw a walk in to the Cubs. It was the team’s eighth consecutive loss in the franchise鈥檚 longest skid since dropping nine in a row in September 2018.
鈥淲e got a long way to go,鈥� Thomson said. 鈥淚 think there’s a lot of frustration here, but, at the same time, these guys know that we got a talented group. Not much is going right for us right now, and at times we’re not playing well. We just got to stay after it and keep fighting.鈥�
The Phillies brought up catcher Garrett Stubbs from Triple-A Lehigh Valley before Wednesday’s game. Right-hander Max Lazar, who is coming back from an oblique strain, was transferred to the 60-day IL.
The 35-year-old Realmuto is batting .259 with a homer and four RBIs in 17 games. The three-time All-Star re-signed with Philadelphia in free agency, agreeing to in January.
Realmuto joins a crowded injured list that also includes closer Jhoan Duran (oblique strain), right-hander Zack Wheeler (shoulder surgery) and reliever Zach Pop (calf strain).
鈥淲e’ve had this in the past,鈥� Thomson said, 鈥渁nd it’s time for guys to step up and I expect that and that’s why you have depth and we’ve got depth. Stubby will come in here and he’s played a lot of meaningful baseball here in Philadelphia, so I feel good about that.鈥�
Wheeler on Saturday at Atlanta. The three-time All-Star had a procedure last year from his upper right arm. Then he was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome 鈥� leading to another surgery.
Lefty reliever Jos茅 Alvarado left Tuesday’s game at Wrigley Field because of a back spasm. But Alvarado threw on flat ground Wednesday, and Thomson thought he would be fine.
Duran, who was acquired in a trade with Minnesota in July, is playing catch and feeling better, Thomson said.
___
AP MLB:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
