Ranger Suarez Should Be Moved to the Phillies Bullpen When He Returns

SportsRadio 94 WIP’s midday host Joe Giglio is known for his outlandish, over-the-top, hot takes. Monday’s take proved to be no exception. Giglio went on a rant begging the Philadelphia Phillies to call up MLB Pipeline Top 100 prospect Andrew Painter and put him in the bullpen in an effort to save the season! 

Joe Giglio says the Phillies should use Andrew Painter as a bullpen piece this season. pic.twitter.com/CH5PEmSLPE

— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) April 21, 2025

It’s April, folks. But Giglio’s overall thought process isn’t wrong. 

The Phillies bullpen imploded again on Easter Sunday; this time it was flamethrower Orion Kerkering who allowed three hits including a three-run home run that gave the Miami Marlins a 5-4 lead in a disastrous eighth inning for the Phils. The latest bullpen meltdown came one day after reliever Jordan Romano was torched for six hits, six earned runs including two home runs in ⅔ of an inning on Saturday. Unlike the Romano game which the Phillies held on to win 11-10, the Easter Sunday disaster cost the club a sweep of the mediocre Marlins.

Entering Monday’s game against the rival New York Mets, the Phillies statistically have one of the worst bullpens in baseball. Don’t believe me? Here’s a look at handful of stats:

• Team Blown Saves- 6 (30/30)
• Team ERA- 5.81 (29/30)
• Team Earned Runs- 45 (26/30)
• Team WHIP- 1.55 (26/30)

It’s bad. The Phillies have one pitcher, Jose Alvarado, that can be trusted in late innings and even Alvarado channels his inner Mitch Williams from time-to-time. 

Back to the sports radio banter. Giglio’s thought process isn’t wrong, but his choice of player is. He should listen to his former football playing co-host, the venerable Hugh Douglas, a bit more. 

It was Douglas that threw cold water on Painter to the ‘pen and called for Ranger Suarez to be moved to the bullpen once healthy. And guess what? The football guy is right! 

Ranger Suarez Should be Moved to the Phillies Bullpen

It’s been obvious for a few seasons now, but Ranger Suarez should be moved to the bullpen. 

The last time Ranger Suárez took the mound in Philly, he helped send the @Phillies to the #WorldSeries! pic.twitter.com/36pcADnNID

— MLB (@MLB) November 1, 2022

It’s not a role the 29-year-old left-hander is a stranger to. Suarez came out of the ‘pen at the beginning of his career and he’s been used in high leverage situations over recent years out of the ‘pen. That’s because deep down, the Phillies KNOW Suarez is a better relief pitcher. The stats say so!