UPDATE: Zack Wheeler underwent a successful procedure to remove the blood clot on August 18. A timeline for a return to the mound remains to be determined.
Phillies ace Zack Wheeler is heading to the 15-day IL with a blood clot in his right shoulder. Wheeler has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this decade and is in the midst of one of the best seasons of his career. Across his first 24 starts, he holds a 2.71 ERA, an NL-best 0.935 WHIP and leads the entire majors with 195 strikeouts.
The injury has officially been labeled a “right upper extremity blood clot” by Phillies general manager Dave Dombrowski.
Wheeler made a start for the Phillies last night, allowing four hits and two earned runs across 5.0 innings pitched. The three-time All-Star saw a dip in his velocity over the past few starts and struggled to find his expected level of control in the previous game. He also had his Aug. 10 start moved back two days due to shoulder soreness.
The concern surrounding the shoulder soreness increased following his previous start, with some symptoms changing. For the time being, there isn’t a clear timetable for return. Further evaluations are set to take place when the standout pitcher returns to Philadelphia.
This is a major hit to the Phillies, who hold World Series aspirations and have pushed their NL East lead over the Mets to 5.5 games after today’s game. They currently hold the second-best championship odds at +600 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Wheeler has performed like a Cy Young candidate this season, but saw his odds slip to fourth in the National League following this news and the recent stretch of uncharacteristic starts. He now holds +2500 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook of winning the NL Cy Young. His Phillies teammate Cristopher Sanchez has leaped to the second-best odds at +300, trailing only Paul Skenes at -425 odds.
On the bright side for Philadelphia, Aaron Nola is set to make his return to the team tomorrow after last making a start on May 14. Ankle and rib injuries have kept him sidelined since this point. The initial plan was for the Phillies to introduce a six-man rotation with Nola returning, but the change in Wheeler’s status throws a wrinkle in this.
Stay tuned for more updates at DK Network.
