The Phillies introduced that Zack Wheeler has been positioned on the 15-day injured checklist as a result of a proper higher extremity blood clot. In line with Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic, the clot is close to his throwing shoulder. The staff has not introduced a timetable for his return.
Philadelphia will activate Aaron Nola from the 60-day IL tomorrow. He’s listed because the possible starter for his or her sequence finale in Washington. They initially meant to go along with a six-man rotation. As a substitute, Nola will take Wheeler’s spot in a five-man workers that additionally consists of Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez, Jesús Luzardo and Taijuan Walker. They’ll nonetheless have to open a 40-man roster spot for Nola and make an lively roster transaction to clear house for Alec Bohm, who is predicted again from a 10-day IL stint tomorrow.
The speedy roster issues take a again seat to concern about Wheeler’s future. The Phils ought to have the ability to face up to a short-term absence, a minimum of with regard to the division. They’ve constructed a five-game lead over the Mets within the NL East. Their maintain on the #2 seed within the Nationwide League and the related first-round bye is tenuous. They’re solely half a recreation up on the Dodgers and Padres, who enter play Saturday evening tied for the NL West lead. (San Diego and L.A. are enjoying each other, so one in all them will tie Philly this night.) The scorching scorching Brewers have pulled effectively forward of the pack for the NL’s prime seed.
If this requires a longer-term absence, it’d clearly be a large blow. Wheeler stays on the brief checklist for the title of MLB’s greatest pitcher. He has a 2.71 earned run common and leads the majors with 195 strikeouts. He’s averaging greater than six innings per begin. This can most likely be Wheeler’s second consecutive sub-3.00 ERA displaying and his fifth time permitting fewer than three earned runs per 9 over his six seasons in Philadelphia. Wheeler has been exceptionally sturdy. That is simply his second IL stint as a Phillie, with the opposite being a month-long absence as a result of forearm tendinitis in 2022.
A wholesome Wheeler could be Philadelphia’s Recreation 1 starter. There’s no indication that the staff is anxious about his playoff availability, however a blood clot comes with a degree of uncertainty. The Phillies will presumably present extra specifics within the subsequent few days.
