On April 18th, Zach Wheeler is on the verge of returning to the Phillies' rotation after thoracic outlet surgery last September. The 35-year-old right-hander has one more rehab start lined up Sunday, with double A reading. If it goes smooth, he could join the big club next weekend against the Braves. His recovery timeline was six to eight months, putting him right around opening day, but the Phillies played it safe with their ace.
Last year, he made 24 starts with a sparkling 2.71 ERA, over 149 and two-thirds innings, striking out a career-high 33.3% of batters. The Phillies' rotation has been shaky so far, posting a 5.55 ERA through 19 games. Fans in the front office are itching for Wheeler's dominance back, especially after his blood clot sidelined him late last season. It's the milder Venus form of the injury, and guys like Merrill Kelly have bounced back strong.
Tyjuan Walker has taken the biggest hit, struggling in his starts with mostly blow-ups, like seven earned runs against the Braves recently. Reports say he might head to the bullpen once Wheeler arrives, sticking to low-leverage spots given his relief history. With Wheeler slotting in, the Phillies could steady that staff quick, setting up a real push as the schedule heats up. Stay tuned with MLB News Today, AI-powered updates.