Paul Casella of MLB.com reports this that Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he doesn’t expect staff chief Zack Wheeler to be ready for Opening Day. However, Thomson also said he doesn’t expect to have to wait too long for Wheeler’s return.
Wheeler was placed on the injured list on August 16 for a blood clot near his right shoulder. Two days later he underwent surgery, which cost him the remainder of the 2025 season.
Getting Zack Wheeler back sooner would be a significant boost to the Philadelphia Phillies rotation
While Cristopher Sanchez has emerged as a top starter, the rest of the Phillies rotation is filled with question marks.
Jesus Luzardo was an excellent performer in 2025, but only made more than 18 starts twice in his career. Aaron Nola had the worst season of his career, missing time due to a sprained right ankle and a stress reaction in his right rib cage. Taijuan Walker is a back-of-the-rotation starter at best, and pitching prospect Andrew Painter posted a 5.40 ERA and a 1.547 WHiP over 106.2 innings at Triple-A.
A healthy Wheeler would transform the Phillies’ rotation. Although his shoulder issues led to a rough final six starts before being placed on the IL, Wheeler still posted a 2.71 ERA and a 0.935 WHiP over his 149.2 innings, striking out 195 batters with 33 walks.
The Phillies could face an uphill battle in the NL East as the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets have improved in the offseason. Getting Wheeler back shortly after opening day could be the boost they need to win the division for a third straight year.
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