Zack Wheeler officially joins Phillies roster; reliever begins minor-league rehab assignment
Zack Wheeler is officially back.
Out since last August after he suffered a blood clot and later underwent surgery to correct thoracic outlet syndrome, Wheeler was reinstated off the 15-day injured list on Saturday, the Phillies announced. He’ll start against the Braves on Saturday night at Truist Park. The Phillies, losers of 10 straight, could use a vintage Wheeler performance.
But in five minor-league rehab starts with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Double-A Reading, Wheeler was inconsistent with a 5.85 ERA in 20 innings. There were bright moments, but his fastball velocity did not reach its peak form at any point. His heater will continue to be something to monitor as the season progresses, even if the two-time National League Cy Young Award runner-up might have the secondary offerings necessary to adapt at just shy of 36 years old.
The Phillies optioned reliever Alex McFarlane back down to Reading following a one-day stint in the big leagues to make room on the 26-man roster for Wheeler. Major-league reliever Jonathan Bowlan (strained right groin) will begin a rehab assignment with Lehigh Valley on Saturday, the Phillies also announced.
Philadelphia has struggled in just about every aspect of the game so far this season, sitting 10.5 games back of Atlanta at 8-18. While the rotation has been a strength in recent years, Phillies starters have a 5.68 ERA (a number that doesn’t include Taijuan Walker’s four-run, four-inning outing before his release since he came into the game after an opener), which ranks No. 28 in the majors. Even the best version of Wheeler would not totally fix the Phillies’ woes right now, but the club could use all the help it can get at this moment.