Zack Wheeler will not start Philadelphia’s final game before the break Sunday due to back spasms.
Wheeler exited Tuesday’s win with a back injury after holding the Dodgers to just one run in five innings after 76 pitches. He was scheduled to play in the series finale against Oakland late in the first half, but Philadelphia is instead erring on the sidelines by giving him an extended leave of absence.
They feel Wheeler will be ready to go once the second half of the season begins July 19 in Pittsburgh.
“We’ll be careful,” manager Rob Thompson said on Thursday afternoon. “We’ll put him in the starting XI after the break. We haven’t decided on the starting XI yet but we’ll just look after him.”
The starting pitcher on Sunday has not been determined. Aaron Nola will start on Thursday with Ranger Suarez starting on Friday. Tyler Phillips will make his major league debut on Saturday after striking out seven batters in four innings last weekend in Atlanta.
Michael Mercado remains on the active roster after suffering a groin injury against the Braves and could be an option to start Sunday, or the Phillies could decide to play a relief game. The unique timing before the All-Star break gives them the opportunity to use their full relief corps.
“I don’t know,” Thompson said. “It all depends on what happens on Friday and Saturday. Hopefully we don’t use too many of our bullpen players on Saturday and can get our guys out there and get them some work before the break.”
It helps that the final series is against the Athletics, who are 4-25 on the road since May 12.
Quarterback JT Ralmotto will miss the remainder of the offseason with a right knee injury. Ralmotto will continue to work on receiving and hitting drills on the field before games and will head to Clearwater next week for further rehabilitation. “We’ll see what happens after the offseason,” Thompson said.
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