The Philadelphia Phillies are in control of the NL East, holding a lead over the New York Mets with just over a month remaining in the regular season. As they gear up for the playoffs, Kyle Schwarber has been on a tear offensively. However, the team suffered a major blow with ace Zack Wheeler landing on the injured list due to a blood clot.
“Phillies right-handed starter Zack Wheeler was placed on the injured list with a right upper extremity blood clot, Phillies president of baseball operations David Dombrowski announced Saturday following the Phillies’ 2-0 loss to the Nationals,” MLB.com’s Byron Kerr wrote.
While it’s fortunate the blood clot was detected early, the news left a significant hole in Philadelphia’s starting rotation. At the time, there was no clear timetable for Wheeler’s return.
“A timeline for Wheeler’s recovery has not yet been determined, the team said, and manager Rob Thomson told reporters he won’t know if and when Wheeler can return to the mound this season until they receive more information,” USA Today’s Gabe Lacques wrote.
Then came an even more devastating update on Saturday — one no Phillies fan wanted to hear about their most dependable arm.
“Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler will miss the rest of the season. He was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and has been recommended to undergo surgery, which would cause him to miss 6-8 months, according to the team,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan wrote.
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It’s a brutal development for both Wheeler and the Phillies. With October approaching fast, the team will have to move quickly to address the void left by their ace. For Wheeler, the focus now shifts to recovery and returning healthy for next season.
