9:41PM: Wheeler will indeed miss his Monday start, Girardi told Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic and other reporters, though the righty may not be out of action for long. Girardi feels Wheeler will be able to start during the Phillies’ upcoming series with the Mets, which runs from Tuesday, Sept. 15 to Thursday, Sept. 17.
12:11PM: Zack Wheeler may miss his scheduled start on Monday after he “ripped the nail bed from his middle finger,” writes The Athletic’s Matt Gelb (via Twitter). Interestingly, Wheeler has dealt with a version of this issue his whole career. The Phillies’ right-hander puts undue pressure on his middle finger when he throws, often cracking the nail, per Gelb. In this particular instance, however, Wheeler caught the nail on his jeans and ripped it free. While Gelb says, “It’s not good,” he also gives Wheeler a chance to make his scheduled start on Monday.
In his first season with the Phillies, Wheeler has maintained the success he enjoyed in his final two seasons as a Met, perhaps even taking his dominance a step further. Wheeler boasts a 4-0 record through 8 starts with a 2.47 ERA/3.11 FIP. He’s been everything the Phillies could have hoped for after inking him to a five-year, $118MM deal this offseason.
Slotting Wheeler into the top of the rotation has transformed the Philly starting five into a top-10 unit. Their 3.87 ERA ranks 9th in the majors, 3.83 FIP is tied for 4th in the game, and their 4.9 fWAR is tied for 3rd overall. Last season’s rotation finished 15th, 17th, and 13th by the same metrics.
this has become a comedy act skit at this point. how do you lose your nail putting on jeans. first the pen and now this. smh.
I have no idea how somebody would do that, but it SOUNDS painful as hell…
The price you pay for wearing skinny jeans
Haha that was great!
Comment of the day! LOL
I have a nail cracked into thirds, if it gets even a little long one third can easily get caught on something and get ripped back to a 90 degree angle.
The most crucial 7 game series of the Phillies season, and the team is going to have to pitch 2 maybe 3 bullpen games with the worst bullpen in the league. Nightmare scenario that could end their season. Hopefully they pull through. They lost the first bullpen game already.
to be fair, how many times does a team put a BP game up against a real starter and win?
It’s been more common this year with all these doubleheaders, but you’re right.
Similar to Wheeler, I’d have to imagine it’s a single digit.
Time to bring up Funky Cold Medina and see what he’s got.
Completely agree start him against sixto. Just for fun.
Once a Met always a Met.
Good start to Wheelers contract. I thought the price was pretty risky but it’s definitely working for them right now. Nola and Wheeler are a nice 1-2 punch. After that, the starters fall off steeply but for right now, I wouldnt want to see the Braves playing them in a 3 game playoff series.
Eflin is underrated. Arrieta has been serviceable this year. Starting pitching isn’t the real issue with this team. The atrocious bullpen erases all the good work the starters have done. So this team isn’t close yet.
I guess Arrieta has been serviceable THIS year because of how often pitchers are being blown up but I don’t know that I would say that any other year with a 5.54/4.58 ERA/FIP. His 85 ERA+ says he is even below average. Efflin is okay as a no.4 starter when I look at his production so he doesn’t look overrated to me unless some fans are really ripping into him. Either way, it’s better than what the Braves are starting with, right now.
The Braves starters to the Phillies relief pin, right now. For the moment, I think the Phillies look a bit better.
Keep in mind his ERA is inflated partially because of one horrific inning. He’s not worth the money he’s getting but Arrieta has given the Phils quality starts this year. Something that didn’t happen much in the past. He’s not bad for a #4.
Wheeler should’ve been a Brave…but cheap a** ‘Owners’/FO wouldn’t go over 3 years smh. Heal up Wheeler!
Zach Wheeler must have been stuck with Brandon Morrow as his teacher in Intro To Pants 101
He’s been having issues with that same nail for many years.
I really wish the Mets had re-signed Wheeler
I don’t even think they had to go as high as the Phillies. Remember the Phillies weren’t his best offer. He wanted to stay in the area. Had the Mets offered anything at all he may have stayed. We’ll never know.
The Phillies 3 rivals this season are the Marlins, their own bullpen and a pair of pants.
Not quite as weird as Lionel Simmon’s “Game Boy” injury from 8 trillion years ago…get them keratin levels up, Wheeler!!
Medina spot start?
The Phillies are probably the most overrated team in baseball this year. They are beating up on hurt teams in a short season. The marlins are ovverated too. In 162 season they would definitely fall. All teams in the NL east for lucky stroman and Syndergaard aren’t playing
It’s the Mets, Some pitcher or pitchers lose every season for some reason. Granted, Wheeler accounted for a chunk of that, but it’s a weird continuing thread.
You really should be thankful that DeGrom has for the most part missed that Mets bad luck.
Degrom also missed a start and we lost that game. So you’re wrong
Dude, the Phillies have actually been pretty good this year. That lineup is scary and they have a solid rotation with there 1~3 starters. If there bullpen didn’t explode they would probably be winning the division right now. I don’t know why your hating when the Mets are a whole lot worse than the Phillies. Don’t give me some crap about how your team is so injured because everybody’s team is loaded with injuries this year. I’m not even a Phillies fan but you’re clearly delusional. The Phillies are a talented team
deGrom didn’t was pushed back 1 game, but then the covid delay allowed deGrom to go back to his expected spot in the rotation. So at the end of the year, deGrom is going to make his expected number of starts. So keep holding on to this untrue excuse.
Your vendetta against the Phillies is ridiculous. And your willingness to dismiss the Phillies many key injuries and extemely brutal schedule (look at their double headers) is simply because you’re a homer who blocks out reality. I do not think the Phillies are a great team, but I think they’re at the same level as a healthy Mets team. In fact, they had a winning record against the Mets last year and this year. The Mets are a good team. Solid lineup. Horrendous fielding. Okay pitching, but not good enough, even when the overrated Syndergaard is healthy. I’m tired of your excuses.
There is no reasoning with him von. All I know is I wouldn’t want to go against the Phillies in a 3 game playoff series