Philadelphia Phillies star pitcher Zack Wheeler will not pitch on Sunday as originally planned, opting to use the upcoming All-Star break to recover from ongoing back problems.
Wheeler, a two-time NL All-Star, exited his last game against the Dodgers early due to back spasms. The 34-year-old right-hander revealed he has been dealing with this issue for several weeks. An MRI showed no serious damage, but Wheeler remains sore.
Manager Rob Thomson stated they are taking precautions with Wheeler and will reevaluate his schedule after the break.
“We’re just being cautious with him,” Thomson said. “He’s a key part of our rotation, and we want to make sure he’s 100 percent before he gets back on the mound.”
Wheeler’s impressive season includes a 10-4 record and a 2.70 ERA in 19 starts for the Phillies, who currently lead the majors.
“He won’t be pitching in the All-Star Game since he was slated for Sunday,” Thomson explained. There’s no decision yet on whether Wheeler will attend the All-Star events in Texas.
For Sunday’s game against Oakland, Thomson hinted it might be a bullpen effort depending on how Friday and Saturday’s games unfold, aiming to manage their pitchers effectively heading into the break.
“We’ll take it one game at a time,” Thomson said. “We have a plan, but we’ll adjust based on how the first two games of the series go.”
Wheeler’s absence will be felt, but the Phillies are hopeful that the break will allow him to return stronger for the second half of the season.
