The Philadelphia Phillies faced a concerning moment on Tuesday night when star pitcher Zack Wheeler had to exit the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers due to a back issue.
Fans have been anxiously awaiting an update on his condition, and finally, one has arrived.
Manager Rob Thomson provided the much-anticipated update, shared by Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Thankfully, Wheeler’s MRI revealed no structural damage, but the Phillies plan to proceed with caution.
“We’re going to be very cautious with him,” Thomson stated.
Regarding Wheeler’s next scheduled start on Sunday, there is no certainty he will be ready to pitch.
“Not sure yet. We’ll know tomorrow … We’re not going to risk anything.”
Wheeler has been exceptional for Philadelphia this season, and losing him for any significant period would be a major setback for the team.
In the 19 games he has started this year, Wheeler has a 10-4 record, a 2.70 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and a 3.6 K/BB ratio in 116.2 innings.
The 34-year-old pitcher has been a vital part of the Phillies’ formidable rotation. Hopefully, this issue won’t cause long-term problems.
While concerns about his injury remain, the news is encouraging. Philadelphia has managed to avoid another injury that could have severely impacted their season.
