The Philadelphia Phillies have been forced into a change behind the plate.
The Athletic’s Matt Gelb reports the team is placing J.T. Realmuto on the injured list with a back injury.
News: The Phillies are putting J.T. Realmuto on the injured list. Garrett Stubbs will return and split time at catcher with Rafael Marchán.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) April 22, 2026
Another blow to a team that desperately needs something to go right. Story: https://t.co/BlTHrTo2LR
Garrett Stubbs will be called up from Triple-A in his stead.
The move comes with the team mired in a seven-game losing streak, sitting at 8-15 on the season. Only the New York Mets (7-16), losers of 12 in a row, sit below the Phillies in the National League East.
Realmuto, 35, sat out the team’s Sunday game against the Atlanta Braves and Monday contest with the Chicago Cubs with back soreness after being lifted early from a game on Saturday. He returned in Tuesday night’s 7-4 loss to the Cubs. Realmuto was 0-for-4 in the loss.
A native of Del City, OK, Realmuto is in his 13th big league season and eighth with the Phillies. He signed a three-year, $45 million extension with the team in the offseason, taking him through the 2028 season. In 17 games in 2026, Realmuto is batting .259 with 14 hits, a home run, four runs batted in and an OPS of .696 over 54 at-bats.
The Phillies look to avoid a series loss to the Cubs later on Wednesday in the third game of a four-game set.
