The Philadelphia Phillies continued their streak on Saturday with a 12-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals . Rookie right-handed pitcher Andrew Painter had arguably his best game in the majors so far, while 10 different players got at least one hit.
While optimism is bubbling throughout the Delaware Valley region again about the team's prospects this fall, there is a bit of concern after two key rotation players left Saturday's contest due to injury.
Luis Arraez , whom Philadelphia traded for just before the Aug. 3 deadline, left in the fourth inning. In the previous inning, one of his legs appeared to go bad as he made his way to second base. He was able to get to third base and then score later in the inning when Bryan De La Cruz knocked in a two-run single.
Per MLB.com , the team said that Arraez had what sounds like a minor ailment.
Aug 22, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Luis Arraez (4) reacts after hitting a single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
"The Phillies quickly announced that Arraez had departed due to 'lower body cramping,'" wrote Paul Casella. "He was replaced by Bryson Stott -- who was not in the starting lineup -- at second base to begin the top of the fourth."
Later on, Derek Hill left the game as well and didn't return.
"Just a few innings later, outfielder Derek Hill was lifted for a pinch-hitter due to neck stiffness. It was unclear when he sustained the injury, but he was replaced by Justin Crawford in the bottom of the sixth. The Phillies said Hill will be evaluated further."
Aug 9, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Derek Hill (49) celebrates his walk-off RBI single during the twelfth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Needless to say, if Arraez has to miss any significant time, it would be a sizable blow to a Phillies team that has gotten hot after losing 15 of its first 25 games following the Major League Baseball All-Star break. It currently has a 72-58 record and has pulled to within three games of the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East.
Since coming to Philly, Arraez has batted .315 and hit 11 runs batted in through 17 games. In his last seven contests, he's at a scorching .429 batting average and has five RBIs; in Friday's 7-6, 10-inning victory, he had three hits in five at-bats.
Hill, meanwhile, has a .261 average and a .767 OPS, plus 17 RBIs and five home runs in 45 games with the Phillies this season. He's performing much better with them than he did earlier this season with the Chicago White Sox , the team that traded him to Philadelphia on June 11.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/phillies/onsi as Two Key Phillies Players Left Cardinals Game Due to Injuries .
