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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 29: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during a game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on April 29, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Phillies desperately need to win a baseball game. They are riding a 10-game losing streak, and are currently facing the Atlanta Braves in a three-game weekend set. The Phillies’ losing streak dates back to last weekend, when the Braves swept Philadelphia, and Atlanta has defeated the Phillies in four straight games.
However, the rotation should be stabilized on Saturday when Zack Wheeler returns for his season debut. Wheeler is recovering from Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in his right shoulder to remove blood clots. The Phillies’ ace is now being relied on to be a Cy Young-caliber pitcher for the rest of the season, which he is capable.
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GettyZack Wheeler will rejoin the Phillies pitching staff on Saturday to take on the Atlanta Braves
The return of Zack Wheeler is great news for the Phillies, who are now in sole possession of the worst record in Major League Baseball
CBSSports aggregated (on April 25):
“Philadelphia ace Zack Wheeler will make his first start since last August when the Phillies bid to snap a 10-game losing streak on Saturday night against the host Atlanta Braves. The Braves have won nine of their last 10 games and beat the Phillies 5-3 on Friday to open the three-game set between the teams with the best and worst record, respectively, in the majors. The losing streak is the longest for Philadelphia since it dropped 11 in a row in 1999.”
Zack Wheeler will oppose Bryce Elder on Saturday night in Atlanta, which will be quite the environment to make a season debut in. However, the Phillies can’t be making excuses at this juncture. They’ve dug themselves into a massive hole in both the National League and the NL East, where Philadelphia is 10.5 games back of the Braves in the standings. It’s April 25.
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GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – APRIL 29: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during a game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on April 29, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Since joining the Phillies in 2020, there’s an argument to be made that he’s been the best starter in MLB.
He’s been named to three All-Star teams, and finished second in NL Cy Young voting twice in his six seasons with the Phillies.
Before the 2025 season, Philadelphia inked Zack Wheeler to a three-year, $126 million extension.
In 2025, Wheeler made 24 starts before going down with TOS and posted an ERA of 2.71 with 195 strikeouts. 2024 was perhaps Wheeler’s best season of his career. He made 32 starts, pitched 200 innings, struck out 224 batters, and boasted an ERA of 2.57.
If the Phillies can’t win the starts that Zack Wheeler makes, they can kiss their playoff chances goodbye.
Also, something important to note: Wheeler did indicate that he would retire after his contract expires (end of 2027 season), but those reports haven’t surfaced in a while, so it’s unclear how mich truth is in that.
However, regardless, Philadelphia will welcome the services of Wheeler with open arms.
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