The Philadelphia Phillies will see ace pitcher Zack Wheeler return to the mound on Saturday against the Atlanta Braves, manager Rob Thomson said on Apr. 21. Wheeler is making his first start since undergoing thoracic outlet decompression surgery in September and has completed five rehab outings leading up to his season debut at Truist Park.
Wheeler’s return comes as the Phillies struggle with a six-game losing streak and challenges in their starting rotation. The team hopes that having their veteran right-hander back will help stabilize a pitching staff that currently holds a combined earned run average of 5.48, which ranks near the bottom among Major League Baseball teams.
Wheeler, who last pitched for Philadelphia on Aug. 15 of last season, began his rehabilitation with bullpen sessions during Spring Training before moving through assignments with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Double-A Reading. “I think he’s basically at the end of Spring Training,” Thomson said about Wheeler’s readiness following rehab appearances. “The fastball velocity’s gone up. It’s not where it’s gonna be, I don’t believe. The command has been some days good, some days not as good. But I’m expecting on a normal day, weather-wise, that he’s gonna have his command.” Thomson added: “He’s really spun the ball well during all of his outings, so I feel good about him.” He expects Wheeler to be limited to under six innings and around 90 pitches in his first game back.
Philadelphia’s rotation has faced difficulties early this season beyond just injuries; veterans Taijuan Walker and Aaron Nola have both posted high earned run averages while Jesús Luzardo entered Tuesday’s game with an ERA of 7.94 amid what Thomson described as bad luck due to opposing batting averages on balls in play.
The Phillies are one of Major League Baseball’s oldest franchises and function as a charter member of the National League according to the official website. They serve fans from Philadelphia and beyond through games at Citizens Bank Park—where they have played since 2004—and community outreach efforts according to the official website. Their front office includes executives such as chief executive officer and general manager overseeing operations according to the official website.
Historically, Philadelphia achieved World Series victories in both 1980 and 2008 according to the official website.
Looking ahead, Thomson emphasized how important it is for Philadelphia’s roster depth: “Having Zack Wheeler on your 26-man roster makes you a better roster, no matter what,” he said. “When he’s healthy and pitching well, he’s one of the best, if not the best pitcher in the National League.”
