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UPDATE:
Mackanin says Velasquez has right biceps strain, re-evaluated tomorrow. MRI likely. VV felt something at end of warm up pitches in bullpen.
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) June 8, 2016
FROM EARLIER:
Phillies starter Vince Velasquez threw a strike to Dexter Fowler this afternoon, then got the Cubs lead-off man to fly out.
And then, Velasquez's day was over.
He'd thrown two fastballs, at 86 and 87 m.p.h. - not the velocity for which he is known. The 24-year-old acquired by the Phillies in the Ken Giles trade with Houston departed after having two prolonged conversations with shortstop Freddy Galvis and catcher Cameron Rupp prior to throwing a pitch. After entering the dugout, Velasquez gestured for manager Pete Mackanin to follow him into the tunnel. Long reliever Brett Oberholtzer took over in his place.
It was later announced that Velasquez was suffering from right bicep soreness. Fans took solace in the fact that he wasn't suffering from forearm soreness, a known harbinger of Tommy John surgery. Though it's a little premature to be coming to any sort of conclusions.
Velasquez began the year on fire, throwing a 16-strikeout complete game in his first start. Since then, he has struggled to do deep into games and had trouble keeping the ball down.