Cliff Lee Injury: Updates on Phillies SP's Oblique Injury

The Philadelphia Phillies have placed starting pitcher Cliff Lee on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained left oblique muscle. The lefty would be eligible to return from the DL on May 4, according to Comcast Philly.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro told CSNPhilly about when the injury happened:

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He actually did it on a pitch in the 10th when he felt something and it grabbed him on his left side. He was sore the next day. It has improved each day, but we're being very cautious with this. There's no reason for him to completely blow it out. It's an injury that if he really pulls it, we could lose him for a long time. We'll be cautious with him, shut him down, and get him right. Hopefully he only misses a couple of starts.

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The Phillies will need the rest of their rotation to step up in Lee’s absence, but the real key has to be the offense. With a lack of runs this season, if Philadelphia wants to be a serious threat, then it has to figure out how to hang runs on the board…and fast.

What They’re Saying

Phillies’ insider for CSN Philly Jim Salisbury is reporting about who was recalled and who is taking Lee’s spot in the rotation:

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Phillies put Cliff Lee on DL with left oblique straight. Savery recalled. Kendrick starts Monday.

— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyCSN) April 21, 2012"

Local media trouble-maker for 610 WIP, Howard Eskin, raises the question about Lee’s 10-inning effort playing into his injury:

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Cliff Lee on DL w left oblique strain. after going 10 innings last outing. Did he throw too many pitches and charlie leave him in too long.

— Howard Eskin (@howardeskin) April 22, 2012"

As much as we want to discount what Eskin says on most topics, he is right here. No matter what the pitch count was, these pitchers do not prepare for 10 innings. It’s much more about cooling off and warming back up one too many times that can hurt a player.

What’s Next

While the idea of this injury is terrifying to a team that can’t score runs to save their lives, this is just a precautionary move that will save Lee from himself.

Lee is notorious for pushing himself, and the last thing anyone in the Philadelphia organization wants to see is one of its star pitchers having a setback in April.

The Phillies have to play this slow and realize that they can’t rush him back. If they slow-play the whole situation, there is no reason that Lee can't be back in a few days completely fine; or, that’s what the team is hoping.

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