Jerad Eickhoff out 6-8 weeks with back injury

Pitcher Jerad Eickhoff will miss at least six weeks with a strained right lat muscle in his back, the Phillies announced Friday.

It’s the first major injury the team has suffered during an otherwise calm spring. It’s also similar to an injury Eickhoff suffered last year, part of a mediocre campaign (4.71 ERA, 118 K, 53 BB).

Meanwhile, Matt Klentak said the Phils are probably done making moves, so don’t expect Alex Cobb coming to Philadelphia. Instead, the team will hope one of either Ben Lively, Zach Eflin or Mark Leiter Jr. does the job as a substitute.

OPINION: I’d also add Tom Eshelman into the mix, who has had a great spring and deserves a look in the majors. But I’m sure the Phils also want to get definitive answers on players like Lively, Eflin and Leiter Jr. Of those three, I’d probably give the spot to Leiter Jr., who has proven the most efficient and valuable of the trio so far.

Either way, this is a tough setback for Eickhoff, who was someone we all hoped would repair himself as an acceptable back-end starter, at worst.