Zach Wheeler will miss at least one of his upcoming starts after being placed on the 15-day injured list due to a thrombotic condition, which the Philadelphia Phillies confirmed on Saturday. The team’s president, Dave Dombrowski, noted that the blood clots are located near Wheeler’s shoulder.
As of now, there’s no timeline for the return of three MLB All-Stars who are recovering from their respective injuries.
This season, Wheeler has started 24 games, boasting a 2.71 ERA and leading the majors with 195 strikeouts. He was the National League strikeout champion in 2021 and is expected to be a contender for the Cy Young Award again this year.
Interestingly, Wheeler hasn’t faced significant injuries in recent seasons. The last time he was on the injured list was back in August 2022 for tendonitis in his right forearm. Now, with his absence, the Phillies are adjusting their lineup and looking to bring Aaron Nola back into the rotation.
Nola, who 32 years old, has participated in nine games this season but has missed three months due to a rib stress fracture and an ankle sprain. Thankfully, he has started some rehab work and is anticipated to return to pitching on Sunday.
After a recent loss to the Washington Nationals, the Phillies currently maintain a five-game lead over the New York Mets in the National League East.
