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The Philadelphia Phillies have announced that ace pitcher Zack Wheeler will be placed on the injured list due to a blood clot located near his right shoulder. This news comes from the team’s president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, who spoke to reporters on Saturday.
Further Testing and Replacement
Wheeler is set to undergo additional testing in Philadelphia, and as of now, there is no definitive timeline for his return to the mound. In a move to bolster the pitching staff, Aaron Nola will be activated from the injured list to fill Wheeler’s spot on the active roster.
Concerning Diagnosis
The specifics of the blood clot remain somewhat vague, but it is undoubtedly troubling news for the first-place Phillies, especially with the playoffs just over a month away. Dombrowski acknowledged the seriousness of the situation while praising the team’s medical staff for their prompt actions.
Medical Team’s Insight
“There’s not a lot we can say about it at this time, but I commend head athletic trainer Paul Buchheit and the doctors here for finding this because it could have been a much more trying situation than what it is,” Dombrowski remarked.
Buchheit added that the team requires more information before establishing a treatment plan or prognosis. “Zack had been feeling better after his right shoulder soreness, but yesterday some symptoms had changed. He felt a little heaviness,” Buchheit said.
Wheeler’s Impressive Season
At 35 years old, Wheeler is having one of the best seasons of his already distinguished career. He leads the National League in strikeouts with 195 and boasts a WHIP of 0.935. Prior to this news, he was a frontrunner for the NL Cy Young Award, having finished as a runner-up last season.
Impact on the Phillies
The Phillies currently have one of the top pitching rotations in baseball, ranking first in MLB for innings pitched and second in ERA. However, losing Wheeler poses a significant challenge for the team as they look to secure their playoff position.
Following a 2-0 loss to the Washington Nationals on Saturday, the Phillies hold a record of 70-53, maintaining a 5.5 game lead over the New York Mets in the NL East. Wheeler’s absence would be particularly felt in the postseason, where he has a stellar 2.18 ERA and has not allowed more than two earned runs in his last seven playoff appearances.
Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.
