Philadelphia Phillies right-handed starter Zack Wheeler, despite exiting his latest outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers due to injury, expressed his goal to start again on Sunday against the Oakland Athletics after experiencing stiffness in his lower back.
Wheeler brushed aside any serious concerns about his back after leaving the Phillies’ 10-1 victory over the Dodgers after five innings due to stiffness in his left lower back.
Wheeler stated he felt confident about his health after sitting in the dugout for an extended period when Trea Turner hit a grand slam and the Phillies scored six runs in the fourth inning.
Following that, Wheeler pitched one more inning and secured his tenth win, acknowledging that his back has been bothering him since at least his June 22 victory over Arizona in Philadelphia. He also took the loss in his last start in Miami.
“I landed a bit forcefully on the mound before heading out on that trip. It just tightened up on me, and I had to manage and deal with it,” said Wheeler, who threw 76 pitches on a hot night in Philadelphia and left with the Phillies leading 9-1. He allowed three hits, struck out seven, and walked two.
Zack Wheeler, who improved his record to 10-4 and lowered his ERA to 2.70, was slated to start for the Phillies this weekend and will not be available for the National League staff in next week’s All-Star Game.
It is expected that Wheeler will be replaced, with an announcement likely in the coming days, similar to how Hunter Greene (Reds) was named as the replacement for Tyler Glasnow, who is out due to injury.
