Cristopher Sánchez feels ‘normal’ day after exiting game with forearm tightness; no plans for MRI

NEW YORK — The Phillies feel like they may have caught a break with Cristopher Sánchez’s left forearm.

Sánchez showed up to Citi Field on Wednesday feeling “normal,” according to manager Rob Thomson.

“When I just talked [to Sánchez], he feels good,” said president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. “I just saw him there. The trainer feels good about it. Now, we’ll wait to see. But right now, what they’re telling me, I feel very comfortable that he looks like he’s OK.”

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The left-hander was removed from his Tuesday start against the Mets after just two innings. Sánchez had diminished velocity and trouble with his command, and he reported tightness in his left forearm that prompted Thomson to pull him early.

After Sánchez saw the doctor, the Phillies said they did not detect structural damage.

“We did some movement exercises in the training room, the doc checked me out, and that’s how I feel, positive we’re not going to have to be worried about this,” Sánchez said Tuesday through a team interpreter.

Sánchez even wanted to play catch on Wednesday, but the Phillies are having him hold off until Friday. There aren’t any plans to schedule an MRI.

Dombrowski said Sánchez had felt “achy” all over his body on Tuesday. One of the reasons the Phillies feel confident he avoided any structural issues was because the feeling wasn’t isolated to his arm.

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“Now, I know most people don’t care if he had a headache, and I’m not saying that, but that’s the reason they don’t really think it’s [serious],” Dombrowski said. “But [the arm] catches your attention. That’s the reason they don’t really think it’s anything major structural at all. But if it bothers him Friday when he’s due to play catch, well, then we can always go back and do an MRI.”

Because of off days on Thursday and Monday, the Phillies can switch around the rotation to give Sánchez a few days of extra rest without putting him on the injured list, if necessary.

Utility player Weston Wilson was recalled from the injured list Wednesday and was in the starting lineup in left field against Mets left-hander David Peterson. To make room for his return to the 26-man roster, Kody Clemens was designated for assignment.

Wilson missed all of spring training with a moderate oblique strain in his side he suffered during cage work in February. He played 10 games on a rehab assignment between low-A Clearwater and triple-A Lehigh Valley.

“I think the most important part was just getting back out on the field, feeling healthy again, getting my legs underneath me, playing a bunch of nine-inning games in a row,” Wilson said. “I feel good.”

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Wilson, who had described the oblique injury as a “freak accident” in February, was cautious with his rehab process and didn’t try to rush things. He was warned by other players who have experienced oblique injuries to make sure he was fully healthy before returning to the diamond.

“I think I also got stronger through rehab, more range of motion,” Wilson said. “There’s all these silver linings when you get injured, you’ve got to look for those. I feel like I’m in great shape and ready to roll.”

Wilson went 1-for-2 and scored a run against Peterson. Max Kepler replaced him in the sixth inning after the Mets brought in right-hander Huascar Brazobán.

Thomson envisions using Wilson to give Alec Bohm a day off at third on occasion and also plans to use him in left field or at second base against left-handed starters.

Kepler is 4-for-20 against left-handed pitching this season, while Bryson Stott is 4-for-21. Stott was on the bench for Edmundo Sosa on Wednesday with Peterson on the mound.

After Thursday’s off day, Taijuan Walker (1-1, 2.29 ERA) is scheduled to start the series opener against the Chicago Cubs on Friday at Wrigley Field.