Zack Wheeler is officially back on the Phillies’ roster, as the team announced that the right-hander has been reinstated from the 15-day injured list in time to start tonight’s game against the Braves. Righty Alex McFarlane was optioned to Triple-A to create space on the 26-man roster.
The three-time All-Star last appeared in a big league game on August 15, as his 2025 season was unexpectedly brought to an early end after Wheeler posted a 2.71 ERA over 24 starts and 149 2/3 innings. Wheeler was placed on the IL the next day due to the discovery of a blood clot near his throwing shoulder, and he quickly underwent surgery to have the clot removed. A thoracic outlet syndrome procedure followed in late September, and the fact that Wheeler had the venous form of TOS provided some hope that he would be able to return to pitching in relatively short order. (By comparison, the neurogenic form of TOS is more harmful to a pitcher’s recovery since it relates to nerve problems, if less of a threat health-wise.)
The initial optimism over Wheeler’s potential for a quicker return has proved true in the sense that the ace will be back on the mound today, almost exactly seven months to the day after his surgery. What remains to be seen, of course, is whether or not Wheeler will be able to return as a front-of-the-rotation starter. While TOS surgery is still a relatively new procedure and there isn’t a lengthy track record on recoveries, the list of pitchers who haven’t been the same after the surgery is considerably longer than the list of pitchers who returned in good form. Merrill Kelly is the best-case scenario of a hurler who continued to pitch well after undergoing a TOS procedure.
In terms of pure results, Wheeler’s 5.85 ERA over 20 innings in five rehab starts isn’t a great sign, nor is the fact that his average fastball velocity sat at only 92.9mph. (Wheeler’s career average is 95.8mph.) Still, Wheeler threw at least 72 pitches in each of his last two outings, and Phillies manager Rob Thomson suggested earlier this week that Wheeler wouldn’t be used beyond six innings or around the 90-pitch mark tonight.
Even if it may take a while before Wheeler looks like his old self, even a C+ version of Wheeler can boost a Phillies rotation that has struggled massively in the early going. The rotation’s cumulative 5.68 ERA ranks 28th of 30 teams in starter ERA, as everyone besides Cristopher Sanchez has yet to get on track. The starters have been only one piece of what has basically been a team-wide slump for the 8-18 Phillies, who take a 10-game losing streak into tonight’s contest.
The sillies need him to be peak Wheeler in the worst way. Wheeler is at home pitching in front of his family and friends. Everyone is counting on him. He will need this year of starts to get back to his norms or close to it. I am a big Wheeler fan. I hope he gets back to being Wheeler because it is good for baseball. The sillie pen is already thin and they may have to cover after 4 innings. This is not the day the losing streak ends. If the streak ends tonight it is another example of simply how amazing he is against the odds.
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An exciting matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta First Citizens.
Feel like this is so quick..
I’m not concerned about his velocity, I’m sure the adrenaline will get him a couple of MPH higher than in the minors. But my concern is with control and especially when trying to pitch inside. Hopefully he doesn’t hurt one of our players