The Philadelphia Phillies experienced an injury scare on Tuesday night when their star pitcher, Zack Wheeler, was forced to leave the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers due to a back issue. Fans have been anxiously awaiting updates on his condition, and Manager Rob Thomson finally provided some clarity, as reported by Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.
Thomson shared that Wheeler underwent an MRI, which fortunately showed no structural damage. However, the Phillies plan to proceed with caution regarding Wheeler’s health. “We’re going to be very cautious with him,” Thomson emphasized.
Regarding Wheeler’s next scheduled start on Sunday, Thomson stated there is no guarantee he will be ready to pitch. “Not sure yet. We’ll know tomorrow … We’re not going to risk anything,” he said.
Wheeler has been a standout performer for Philadelphia this season, making his potential absence a significant concern for the team. In 19 starts, Wheeler has amassed a 10-4 record, a 2.70 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and a 3.6 K/BB ratio over 116.2 innings. His performance has been instrumental to the Phillies’ success, and losing him for an extended period would be a considerable setback.
The 34-year-old pitcher has been a key component of the Phillies’ dominant rotation, and the team is hopeful that this back issue will not lead to long-term problems. While there is still some uncertainty about Wheeler’s immediate future, the news of no structural damage is a relief for the Phillies and their fans. Philadelphia managed to avoid an injury that could have severely impacted their season.