Zack Wheeler‘s version of Spring Training is over. The right-hander, who has been on a rehab assignment since March 28 after thoracic outlet syndrome surgery has been cleared to start his MLB season. His debut will come Saturday night for the second game of the series in Atlanta. The Braves swept the Phillies in Philadelphia this past weekend.
In five rehab starts – three with Lehigh Valley and two with Reading – Wheeler posted a 5.85 ERA. In 20 innings, Wheeler allowed 19 hits, three home runs, five walks, and struck out 23.
Wheeler’s return will end the run of Taijuan Walker in the Phillies rotation. Walker will likely move to the bullpen. Walker made four starts and will pitch again Wednesday with the Phillies using Alan Rangel as an opener. Walker averaged 4.2 innings per start for a total of 18.2 innings. With 28 hits allowed and 10 walks, his WHIP stands at 2.04 and opponents are hitting .341 against him and his ERA has soared to 9.16.
Most of Walker’s problems have come in the first inning when he has a 24.75 ERA. The Phillies had him change his warm-up routine prior to his last start in an effort to avoid the first inning issues, but it didn’t help. They are now going with the opener Wednesday in hopes of better results.
Wheeler was on track to put himself into the conversation for the NL Cy Young Award last season prior to being diagnosed with a blood clot in his upper right arm following his start on August 15. Wheeler was 10-5 with a 2.71 ERA last season with the Phillies.
Wheeler will be on a pitch count of around 90 pitches and he will be limited to six innings of work.
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