Wheeler (shoulder) struck out four and allowed four earned runs on six hits and one walk across four innings Sunday in his rehab start with Double-A Reading.
After working 5.2 innings and posting a 9:0 K:BB in his previous appearance for Reading on Tuesday, Wheeler took a step back with his command and control Sunday. He spotted 48 of his 77 pitches for strikes and yielded a solo home run and a three-run blast, bringing his ERA up to 5.85 and his WHIP to 1.20 over his five rehab starts between Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Though his results haven't been as strong as the Phillies might have hoped, Wheeler has been able to progressively build up his pitch counts and looks ready to handle a typical starter's workload in his next outing, which is expected to come with the big club. Wheeler tentatively lines up to return from the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 Phillies debut during next weekend's series in Atlanta.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Following opener in next outing
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Walker will work in bulk relief behind an opener during his next turn through the rotation Wednesday against the Cubs, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The veteran right-hander has surrendered 19 earned runs across 18.1 frames in his first four starts of the season, so the Phillies will attempt to limit his exposure to the top of Chicago's lineup Wednesday. Regardless of his role, Walker will have minimal streaming appeal while going up against a Cubs offense that is averaging more than eight runs scored over the past six games. The Phillies are expected to get Zack Wheeler (shoulder) back from the injured list later next week, so Walker may not be in line for any starts or planned bulk-relief appearances for a while after Wednesday's outing.
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Phillies' Taijuan Walker: Hit hard in Friday's loss
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Walker (1-3) took the loss Friday as the Phillies were routed 9-0 by Atlanta, coughing up seven runs on seven hits and three walks over four innings. He struck out four.
The right-hander served up homers to Austin Riley in the second inning and Dominic Smith in the third, the second time in four starts that Walker has been taken deep multiple times. It's been a brutal beginning to the year for the 33-year-old, and he carries a 9.16 ERA, 2.04 WHIP and 16:10 K:BB through 18.2 innings. Zack Wheeler (shoulder) will make what could be his final rehab start Sunday, but that schedule would allow Walker to get one more turn through the rotation on the road next week against the Cubs before being replaced.
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Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Looks sharper in fourth rehab start
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Wheeler (shoulder) struck out nine and allowed four hits and no walks while allowing three runs in 5.2 innings during his fourth rehab start with Double-A Reading on Tuesday.
Wheeler built himself up to 72 pitches Tuesday, an encouraging sign during the final stages of his rehab from last year's venous thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. The right-hander is next slated to make a fifth and perhaps final rehab appearance with Reading on Sunday. Manager Rob Thomson did note Tuesday that Wheeler could make a sixth rehab start, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, depending on how the hurler fares in his outing Sunday.
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Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Still seeking velocity during rehab
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Wheeler (shoulder) struck out six over 4.1 innings in his third rehab start Wednesday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, allowing one run on three hits and one walk.
The All-Star right-hander built up to 61 pitches Wednesday, although it was fairly discouraging to see his fastball velocity average 92.9 mph after it averaged 96.1 mph last year. It remains to be seen if Wheeler will be able to regain the form he displayed before last year's venous thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, but he'll make at least one more rehab appearance to try and tune up before the Phillies consider reinstating him from the injured list, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.
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Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Slated for two more rehab starts
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Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Saturday that Wheeler (shoulder) will continue his rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and will make another minor-league start after that, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Wheeler struggled in his second rehab start with Lehigh Valley on Friday, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks while striking one batter over three innings. His four-seamer averaged 92.7 mph, and Philadelphia will give him at least two more starts to build up in the minors after he threw 49 pitches Friday. That puts a possible return to the major leagues around April 18 or 19, depending on how Wheeler fares as he completes his recovery from venous thoracic outlet syndrome surgery.
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Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Looks sharp in first rehab start
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Wheeler (shoulder) struck out three and scattered two hits and one walk over three scoreless frames in a rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Heading into the rehab start, the Phillies had planned for Wheeler to cover three innings or 50 pitches. The right-hander was even more economical than the Phillies had hoped, needing only 38 pitches to record nine outs in what was his first official game since Aug. 15, 2025. After undergoing thoracic outlet decompression surgery in September, Wheeler has had a fairly seamless recovery thus far and appears on track to return from the 15-day injured list around mid-April. He'll continue to build up his innings and pitch count in his next rehab start, which is set to come Friday versus Triple-A Durham.
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Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Three innings in first rehab start
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Wheeler (shoulder) is scheduled to throw three innings and/or 50 pitches in Saturday's rehab start with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Corey Seidman of PHLY Sports reports.
It will be Wheeler's first official game action since last September's venous thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. The Phillies will likely want Wheeler to get his pitch count up to the 80-to-90 range before clearing him for his season debut, so the right-hander will likely make two additional rehab starts after Saturday before returning in mid-April if all goes well.
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Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Still tracking toward April return
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Wheeler (shoulder) threw 29 pitches over two simulated innings on the back fields of Phillies camp Monday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
The 35-year-old righty is still slated to open the season on the 10-day injured list while he builds back up from venous thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, which he underwent Sept. 23. While facing off Monday against some of the Phillies' lower-level farmhands, Wheeler reportedly looked sharp and ramped up his velocity in the second inning. Wheeler is expected to continue increasing the volume and intensity of his sim games over the next week or two before potentially kicking off a rehab assignment shortly after the minor-league season gets underway. Though he's currently without a firm target date for making his 2026 Phillies debut, Wheeler appears likely to return from the IL at some point in April.
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Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Will pitch in minors game Monday
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Wheeler (shoulder) will pitch in a minor-league game Monday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Wheeler will be limited to 40 pitches, but it will mark his first game action of the spring. The veteran right-hander is set to open the regular season on the injured list, but a return at some point in April appears to still be on the table. Wheeler has been throwing bullpens and live batting practice sessions for the past few weeks. Top pitching prospect Andrew Painter figures to open the season in the Phillies' rotation while Wheeler works his way into game shape.
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Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Makes progress in live BP session
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Wheeler (shoulder) told reporters that he felt "more in sync" during his live batting practice session Saturday, Lochlahn March of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Saturday was Wheeler's first time facing batters since undergoing thoracic outlet surgery in September to remove a blood clot in his right shoulder. He threw 20 pitches during Saturday's session and noted that his fastball reached 93 mph, which was higher than it had been during his bullpen sessions but still lower than his 95.9 mph average last season. Wheeler will continue to build up his velocity and will likely have another bullpen session in the coming days, but it's not clear as to whether he will pitch in any Grapefruit League games before the conclusion of spring training.
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Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Facing hitters Saturday
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Wheeler (shoulder) will throw a live batting practice session Saturday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
It will be the veteran right-hander's first time facing hitters since he had thoracic outlet surgery last September. The Phillies have declined to say whether Wheeler would pitch in any Grapefruit League games, but if he's facing hitters Saturday, there's a good chance he will get into games before camp breaks. Wheeler will begin the season on the 15-day injured list, but it could be a brief absence as long as his recovery continues to move along without interruption.
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Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Early April return possible
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Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Thursday that Wheeler (shoulder) could "possibly" be ready to join the major-league rotation in about six weeks, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Wheeler threw a 21-pitch bullpen session at 80-85 percent effort Thursday, marking the first time he's thrown off a mound since he had surgery last September to address venous thoracic outlet syndrome. The hurler said afterward that, "I felt good, I felt smooth, natural." Six weeks from Thursday would be April 9, and the Phillies are idle that day, but any timeline at this juncture for Wheeler is just an estimate. The veteran righty is unsure whether he will pitch in a Grapefruit League game this spring, noting that "I don't even know when my next bullpen is." The Phillies will tread carefully with the three-time All-Star, but his recovery has gone as well as could be expected to this point.
Wheeler (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Thursday, John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Wheeler began throwing on flat ground in early December, but this is the first time he's thrown from the bump since he had surgery last September to address venous thoracic outlet syndrome. The veteran right-hander is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, but the hope is that his stay on the 15-day injured list will be a brief one. Wheeler -- who turns 36 in late May -- posted a 2.71 ERA and 195:33 K:BB over 149.2 regular-season innings covering 24 starts in 2025 before getting hurt.
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Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Ups throwing distance to 120 feet
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Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Wheeler (shoulder) extended his throwing distance off flat ground to 120 feet Monday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Thomson acknowledged that he's uncertain when Wheeler will be ready to resume mound work, but the veteran right-hander is continuing to make steady progress in his throwing program after he underwent a procedure in mid-August to remove a blood clot near his shoulder and another surgery Sept. 23 to address venous thoracic outlet syndrome. At this point, the Phillies don't seem to be counting on Wheeler to be ready to go for Opening Day, but the 35-year-old appears on track to avoid an extended stay on the shelf to begin the 2025 campaign. Before being shut down last summer, Wheeler was firmly in the mix for the NL Cy Young Award after going 10-5 with a 2.71 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 195 strikeouts in 149.2 innings over 24 starts.
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Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Slightly behind at start of camp
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Wheeler (shoulder) will be behind the Phillies' other starting pitchers at the beginning of spring training, but indications are that "he will not be too far behind," Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Wheeler had an operation in mid-August to remove a blood clot near his right shoulder and then underwent venous thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in late September. He began a throwing program in early December, however, and long-tossed from 90 feet last week as part of what was "a very heavy workload for him," manager Rob Thomson said. While the Phillies have not ruled Wheeler out for Opening Day, it seems a stint on the injured list to begin the season is a real possibility. There's no guarantee Wheeler will regain his pre-surgery form, although venous thoracic outlet syndrome is considered the less severe of the two TOS diagnoses.
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Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Surgery set for Sept. 23
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Wheeler (shoulder) is slated to have thoracic outlet decompression surgery Sept. 23, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.
Wheeler underwent a procedure in mid-August to remove a blood clot near his shoulder, and he's set for a second (and more significant) procedure after being diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome. The veteran hurler is expected to need six to eight months to recover from the upcoming surgery, which means that he may not be ready for Opening Day next season. However, if all goes well moving forward, Wheeler should be able to return to the mound sometime during the first half of the 2026 campaign.
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Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Needs season-ending surgery
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The Phillies announced Saturday that Wheeler (shoulder) will undergo season-ending thoracic outlet decompression surgery, Paul Casella of MLB.com reports. He's expected to face a recovery timeline of 6-to-8 months.
Wheeler was placed on the injured list a week ago after doctors discovered a blood clot in his throwing shoulder, which he had removed in a procedure Monday. Since then, he's been diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome, which will require a more significant surgery. Given the estimated 6-to-8-month recovery timeline, Wheeler's availability for Opening Day in 2026 now appears to be in doubt. Before being shut down last week, the 35-year-old righty had been a leading candidate for the 2025 NL Cy Young Award, posting a 10-5 record, 2.71 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 195:33 K:BB across 149.2 innings.
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Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Undergoes procedure for blood clot
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Wheeler (shoulder) underwent a thrombolysis procedure Monday to remove a blood clot in his right upper extremity.
According to the Phillies' press release, Wheeler's subsequent treatment plan and timeline to return to game action are yet to be determined. More clarity on the right-hander's situation should be available in the coming days and weeks. With Wheeler sidelined indefinitely, Taijuan Walker will continue to hold down a spot in the Philadelphia rotation as the team's No. 5 starter.
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Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Set for further testing
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Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Wheeler (blood clot) returned to Philadelphia on Sunday and will undergo further testing Monday, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.
Philadelphia placed Wheeler on the 15-day injured list Saturday, after president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski revealed following the team's 2-0 loss to the Nationals that the right-hander had been diagnosed with a "right, upper extremity blood clot." according to Patrick Stevens of the Associated Press. The Phillies are unlikely to provide further details on Wheeler's situation until a treatment plan for the blood clot is decided upon, but with just six weeks left in the regular season, the 35-year-old righty may not have enough time to make it back on the mound in 2025. Philadelphia had planned to move to a six-man rotation Sunday with Aaron Nola (rib/ankle) making his return from the 60-day IL, but Wheeler's surprise move to the IL a day earlier has prompted the team to scrap those plans.
