Opening Day 2025 is nearly here, and just like the other MLB clubs, the Philadelphia Phillies are dealing with their fair share of injuries this spring.
One player who's currently banged up heading into the final spring stretch is veteran reliever Matt Strahm. The southpaw hurler has been hampered by a left shoulder injury that has sidelined him from the Phillies' exhibition slate. A follow-up MRI is planned for this weekend, however, that doesn't change the fact that Strahm's Opening Day outlook is up in the air.
Although a full recovery in the next two weeks is possible, there's always a chance that Strahm could suffer a setback. If he isn't healthy enough for Opening Day, for whatever reason, there's a certain minor-league pitcher who the Phillies must call up.
Phillies Must Promote Nabil Crismatt if Matt Strahm Isn't Healthy for Opening Day
If Strahm isn't healthy within the next two weeks and the Phillies want an experienced arm to fill his void, look no further than right-handed veteran Nabil Crismatt. The Colombian reliever spent the last five seasons playing games with four National League franchises before joining the Phillies on a minor-league deal in December.
Nabil, 30, joined the Phillies in an attempt to make an MLB comeback. The veteran hurler went from making 95 big-league appearances between the 2021 and 2022 seasons to just 13 outings in the Majors since then, leaving time to tell if he can still handle baseball's best bats.
Fortunately, all signs point to him being capable of handling MLB bullpen duties.
Although it's a small sample size, Crismatt still pitched well with the L.A. Dodgers last season. He pitched his way to a 2.57 ERA and 1.000 WHIP across seven innings in five appearances, which also included striking out six batters without issuing a single walk.
Fast forward to spring training 2025, when Crismatt has picked up from where he left off. Making five exhibition appearances with the Phillies so far, he's gone 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA while racking up six strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings of work. The performance was enough to earn some praise from manager Rob Thomson on Thursday.
"He's a guy that you can hand the ball and say, 'Just turn the lights out when you’re done,'" Thomson said about Crismatt potentially filling in for Strahm, per Phillies Nation's Ty Daubert. "And he’ll do it. He’s that type of guy."
Crismatt is still on a minor-league contract, meaning the Phillies would have to open up a 40-man roster spot for a potential promotion. Having said that, such a move will be more than worth it if the 6-foot-1 righty can pitch as well in the regular season as he is in spring training.