Key reliever who injured himself while celebrating Bryce Harper’s HR is out

Phillies pitcher David Robertson will miss the upcoming NLDS after the reliever was injured while celebrating Bryce Harper’s home run over the weekend.

It’s not the fact that David Robertson was left off the Philadelphia Phillies NLDS roster — though that’s certainly a development — it’s the why.

Robertson, who was acquired by the Phillies at the trade deadline from the Chicago Cubs, was surely going to be key for Philadelphia during their upcoming series against the defending champion Atlanta Braves. But a freak injury will sideline the reliever for the NLDS.

David Robertson injured himself while celebrating Bryce Harper’s HR.

According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson announced that reliever David Robertson strained his right calf jumping up in the air when Bryce Harper homered during the St. Louis Cardinals during the team’s Wild Card Series over the weekend.

Let this be a reminder to stretch before each game.

In all seriousness, this is a massive blow to the Phillies bullpen, and the freak reasoning is insult to injury. Roberson was 4-3 on the year with a 2.40 ERA and 20 saves. Robertson had 81 punchouts in 63.2 innings of work.

According to manager Rob Thomson (via the Philadelphia Inquirer), Robertson is “devastated”. He will now be replaced by Nick Nelson. Nelson has a 4.85 ERA in 47 appearances for Philadelphia this season.

With David Robertson missing the series, Philadelphia will need some strong performances from their starting rotation. The Phils will send Ranger Suarez to the hill to battle the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 on Tuesday afternoon.

Zack Wheeler gets the call for Game 2 and when the Phillies return home to Citizen Bank Park, Aaron Nola will get the start. One would assume that if there’s a Game 4, Noah Syndergaard will be on the bump, but Thomson has yet to look that far ahead.