Luis Arraez carries a .310 batting average into the final weekend of the regular season, the best mark in the National League as he chases his fourth career batting title. The Phillies second baseman has already filled out a long resume of accolades with three batting championships, two Silver Slugger awards and four All-Star selections.
Besides his .310 batting average, Arraez has a .345 on-base percentage, a .419 slugging percentage with six home runs and 64 RBIs.
That production is now in question for at least one game. Arraez was not in Philadelphia’s starting lineup Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays because of a sprained left ankle, an injury that forced him out of Thursday’s loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, per Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation. Bryson Stott shifted to second base.
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The Phillies still need to win one more game in the three-game series to reach their fifth straight playoff berth.
Arraez went down trying to avoid a tag near first base Thursday and had to be helped off the field, unable to put weight on the leg. X-rays came back negative for a fracture, interim manager Don Mattingly told reporters after the game. Fortunately, the latest update on Arraez is that the injury is not as serious as initially feared, as he will stay off the IL.
Avoiding the injured list keeps the door open for a quick return, though the Phillies have not given a timetable for his return. Stott is expected to start at second base in the meantime, with Philadelphia needing every available bat as it tries to lock up a playoff spot.
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