The Phillies placed starter Zack Wheeler on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to August 22, with tendinitis in his right forearm. Bailey Falter is expected to start tomorrow in his place.
Aside from a brief stay on the COVID list in May, Wheeler has remained on the active roster since signing with Philadelphia heading into the 2020 season. While any mention of forearm discomfort for a pitcher is eyebrow-raising, the Phils don’t seem particularly concerned. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters that Wheeler was willing to pitch through the issue, but the club is hopeful that by skipping two starts, he can put it in the rearview mirror (via Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Todd Zolecki of MLB.com).
Last year’s NL Cy Young runner-up, Wheeler has remained a pivotal part of the starting five this season. Through 23 starts, he owns a 3.07 ERA with a 26.7% strikeout rate. The right-hander’s production isn’t quite at the level it was last year, but he ranks among the top 30 hurlers (minimum 100 innings) in ERA and strikeout percentage. Any downturn in performance is essentially attributable to this month, as Wheeler has a 4.44 ERA over his past four starts after carrying a 2.77 mark into August.
Falter seems likely to plug the rotation gap for a couple turns through the rotation, with the hope that Wheeler returns at full strength for the season’s final month. The Phillies have been one of baseball’s hottest teams, and they carry a 69-55 record into play tonight. Philadelphia is in possession of the second Wild Card spot in the National League, holding a 3 1/2 game cushion over the Brewers (with the Padres in between the two clubs).
ah
Bummer. The only Phillie I actually root for. We Mets fans are very familiar with Zack’s extensive injury history earlier in his career. I’m surprised he hasn’t been injured more often recently. The forearm is connected to the elbow sooooo we’ll see what happens…
One more major injury and the Phanatic won’t be so phanatical.
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We, the majority of baseball fans, are very familiar with Wheeler’s injury history, too.
Do the Mets send their fans an email newsletter with more detailed injury reports?
Also, how did you become so familiar with the anatomy of arms? Is that another Met’s fan exclusive?
By “We Mets Fans” Books is referring to his five user names. He has extensive medical knowledge and is just smarter than all of us.
Von (a.k.a. MarlinsFanBase), we all know you’re the undisputed and self-proclaimed “smartest guy in the room “!!!
I could never take that crown from you, Princess. How’s the school newspaper going?
I never claim to know as much as you mighty, Books, self-proclaimed world traveler and medical expert. Also don’t work for a newspaper but keep tooting that horn.
As a Braves fan, and with both of my boys playing at East Cobb Baseball, our family root for him.
Tell me this is nothing serious…PLEASE!
It’s nothing serious.
Unless he needs TJS.
And so begins Philly’s fall from the playoff race. He’s going to miss 2-3 starts which the Phillies can’t afford right now. Such a tough break for them! When does Bryce come back? They are going to need more offense to make up for the Wheeler loss!
Reports are saying Tomorrow
Nah they’ll be fine. For once I actually feel OK about their chances to make the playoffs.
Eeesh but do what once there? The NL is a nasty gauntlet
Bryce comes back today. I think they can afford to rest him during this stretch against the Pirates. They need to continue to feast on these bad times, while at the same time playing competitive ball against the Braves. They’ve done it all year. Hopefully they can maintain.
Oh man , Ricky Bottalico on 97.5 the fanatic mentioned it earlier in the week how Wheeler looked a bit off…..Hopefully is, well just anything “not bad”
Still a playoff team with these guys….but just “bailey”….
He has looked off, yeah. That’s then only reason why I’m not totally surprised by this.
Ricky Bottalico, heh. Who next Steve Bedrosian?
****
The Phillies have been hit with the injury bug a lot lately.
Injuries and the Mets…the Phillies greatest enemies in 2022.
I could insert Dodgers/Padres/2021 and know exactly how you feel. Stay positive; at least Bruce Hooper is back tomorrow, hopefully Wheels is OK and you guys are still in the driver’s seat for a WC.
Bruce Hooper LMAO
And ‘Wheels’. Funny that he would mention Chris Wheeler out of nowhere.
I miss Wheels.
I watched one of the games during Alumni Weekend when they were running various alumni through the booth. one of the visitors was Wheels. he looked well.
Von, I hope you’re joking. Sarge? Sure. I miss hearing him from time to time. But Wheels? Oof.
Wheels was decent with Harry K. I don’t know. Maybe I’m jusy nostalgic.
Sarge was unlistenable.
Glad I’m not the only one who feels like that. I genuinely would turn the sound off when Sarge was on. Wheels only got a listen because of Harry.
He’s the most important player on the team. He’s already had one tommy John and hope this isn’t serious.
They’ve been devastated with injuries all year. Similar to last year’s Mets. Hopefully they can pull through again. Hope Wheeler isn’t out long.
Dombrowski doesn’t sound too worried. Wheeler wanted to pitch through it. The Mets, twice, made Wheeler work extra hard. He was rolling going into those last two rough outings.
Let’s hope Dominguez has a good re-evaluation tomorrow. He is irreplaceable.
Can we please catch a break…
Just bones it seems
Oh man. Fingers crossed it’s nothing serious. He has TJ prior and it was a LONG road back.
I hear Chase Anderson is available.
Braves fan here and I hope it’s not serious. Felt bad for the Harper injury and this guy too. True “Horse” in that rotation.
Dave Dombrowski said he doesn’t think Zack Wheeler’s right forearm tendinitis is serious. He said they want to knock it out now, as opposed to having him pitch through it.
He said he believes Wheeler will miss only two starts and could be back in the rotation Sept. 6.
Wheeler also had torn tendon so the surgery he had was TJ and torn tendon repair.. His recovery was more complicated. If I correctly recall, the tendon problem was the first diagnosis.
Hope he gets the Tommy John Surgery now. Like tomorrow.
Why does everyone jump to Tommy John? He may just need a bit of rest.
Gee I don’t know….
Scheduled to miss two starts. So far, not a huge deal, but we’ll see.
I hope he’s ok too. All these injuries and I immediately think the worst because a lot of times it is.
How we doing in CF without Odubel Herrera? Everyone thrilled as I am with Vierling- what a stud. Marsh after 2 games and injury future HOF. For real what’s wrong with just sticking Maton in there permanently for rest of season. Otherwise I don’t wanna hear how Vierling OPS+ is 65 and his defenders think it’s great. I think he sucks
Maton is a good defensive infielder. In left field he plays almost on the warning track. Center field is completely out of the question.
Put down the water pipe sir.
Phillies need a good defensive CF to offset LF/RF. Herrera was problematic in CF. Am a Maton supporter….but handing him CF would not be wise….Zimmer will hold down the fort with Vierling until Marsh comes back….
Hey wasn’t Odubel a woman beating piece of trash? I can’t remember
Uhhh ohhh bad news for the phightin’s
Saw ‘Injured List’ before seeing the rest of the headline and immediately figured it was about Mike Trout. Fragile guy.