Arrieta will pitch in pain, pay fine

PHILADELPHIA >> Jake Arrieta reported Friday that he was fined an unspecified amount by Major League Baseball for mentioning that he would be willing to put a dent in the skull of the Mets’ Todd Frazier.

He may be running out of time to give that a try.

Though Arrieta will pitch Sunday against visiting Washington, X-rays Friday confirmed he had a marble-sized posterior medial spur in his right elbow. That could explain why he had allowed 28 hits over his last three outings in a total of 14 innings.

“I think it was pretty evident in the last couple starts,” said Arrieta, before the game against the Nationals. “I could barely locate a curveball whatsoever. I think I hit two guys with change-ups. It’s just not something that I do. It’s restricted me from getting full extension.”

Arrieta experienced a similar problem while pitching for Baltimore in 2011. He was shut down July 31, had the spur removed, and resurfaced as one of the marquee right-handers of his generation.

Because the Phillies maintain reasonable playoff hopes, Arrieta will attempt to pitch through the pain, hoping that a slight change in his grip will provide relief.

“I always respect somebody who wants to pitch and take the ball in any situation,” Gabe Kapler said. “I think Jake falls into that category. He really wants the ball. He is determined to make it work.”

Desperate for reliable starting pitching, the Phillies realize that a less-than-whole Arrieta could be preferable to the alternatives. They will wait at least until he pitches Sunday before making any further decisions.

“I don’t think we need to see the whole staircase right now,” Kapler said. “We just have to take the first step.”

Arrieta is prepared for that. He did, however, keep an escape route clear should his troubles continue.

“It could get to a point, and I’m well aware of it, where it’s not manageable anymore,” said Arrieta, 33, who is committed to the Phillies through next season. “But time will tell. I hope that’s not the case. I don’t think it’s going to be.”

Arrieta is 8-7 with a 4.76 ERA. Sunday, at 1:05, he will face Anibal Sanchez (5-6, 3.66). Max Scherzer (9-5, 2.30) was scheduled to start, but was scratched because of “mid-back” tightness Nationals manager Dave Martinez said.

“I’ll just take it day by day, start by start,” he said. “Once the emotions kind of subsided the last week, I’m pretty confident I can make this work and help the team.” Surgery remains a possibility. “You can’t shrink the bone,” Arrieta said. “An injection is just masking the issue. I had this taken out in 2011, recovered beautifully, came back a lot stronger. The intention is to get through the remainder of the season and get it taken out after the World Series hopefully.”

••• Arrieta’s diminishing control has affected his bank account.

After hitting Todd Frazier with a changeup last Saturday, escalating the season-long ill-will between the Phils and Mets, Arrieta was offended by the infielder’s on-field protests. Later, he said he would “put a dent in his skull.” Cha-ching? “Yeah,” Arrieta said. “I was fined. I don’t know how much. I’ve known him a long time. I wasn’t trying to hit him with a changeup.”

••• With domestic violence charges dropped against Odubel Herrera, the Phillies remain contractually obligated to continue to base his continued employment to his baseball performance only, according to team president Andy MacPhail. Such is baseball’s agreement with the players’ association.

Since Herrera is suspended for the rest of the season, that means the Phillies must bring him to spring training and decide whether he can win a spot in their outfield.

“Right now, we have (Andrew) McCutchen and (Jay) Bruce,” said MacPhail, treading carefully. “We have (Adam) Haseley. We have (Roman) Quinn. We have (Bryce) Harper. It’s a crowded outfield. So we’ll have to see how he performs on the field.”

••• Pat Neshek was placed on the 60-day injured list with a hamstring injury. He would be eligible for an Aug. 19 return, but says he does not expect to return before mid-September.

Neshek has not pitched since June 19. He warns that he could miss the rest of the season.

“Well, if I had a setback, there is the possibility, definitely,” the 38-year-old right-hander said. “The time frame they are giving me is mid-September. I’ve never had a hamstring injury before. I know I am on the older side, so it could be closer to the eight weeks, which is what the doctors have told me.”

••• On paternity leave, J.T. Realmuto did not play Friday. He is expected to start Saturday. According to Kapler, Realmuto welcomed a baby girl.

Rob Brantly, 29, was imported from Lehigh Valley for one night of backup catching. Andrew Knapp started.

The left-handed-hitting Brantly, who has 125 games of majorleague experience with the Marlins and White Sox, was hitting .306 for the IronPigs.

“We got to know him very well in spring training,” Kapler said. “He’s a high-energy guy swinging the bat very well from the left side. He is a perfect option for us to bring in for a day until J.T. is ready to roll.”

••• Though Aaron Nola was spectacular in a win Sunday in New York and had four days of rest, Kapler chose to start Nick Pivetta Friday.

Nola (8-2, 3.74 ERA) will pitch Saturday night at 7:05 against Washington left-hander Patrick Corbin (7-5, 3.34)

“I totally get it,” said Kapler, when questioned about the decision. “But he will start in this series against the Nationals. And he will start in the series next week against the Dodgers. And we didn’t feel the need to move him up for any reason.”