As first reported by MLB.com beat reporter Todd Zolecki, the Phillies have placed catcher Erik Kratz on the 15-day disabled list with a left knee injury and purchased the contract of Steven Lerud from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to provide depth behind the plate.
Kratz injured his knee Saturday in the Phillies’ loss to the Brewers. The exact severity of the injury is unknown, but Kratz told manager Charlie Manuel on Saturday that he felt a “pop” and that’s never good. He’ll be examined by team doctors early this week.
Kratz, 32, is batting .229/.290/.436 with eight home runs and 22 RBI in 155 plate appearances this season. He was the Phillies’ primary backstop while Carlos Ruiz served his 25-game amphetamine suspension to open the season and had resumed that regular catching role in late May when Ruiz strained his right hamstring and landed on the 15-day disabled list.
Ruiz is still out, so Humberto Quintero will get the majority of playing time at catcher in Philly.
