The Philadelphia Phillies starting rotation is a bit weaker this year after left‑hander Ranger Suarez left in free agency to join the Boston Red Sox. Even so, the group still has the potential to be one of the best units in baseball, especially if Zack Wheeler returns to form.
Wheeler finished last season on the 60‑day injured list after undergoing surgery for venous thoracic outlet syndrome and a blood clot near his right shoulder. Before going down, he was in the middle of one of the best seasons of his career and remained a top candidate for his first National League Cy Young Award, which unfortunately slipped away.
Across 24 starts, the 35‑year‑old posted a 10‑5 record, a 2.71 ERA, a 0.935 WHIP and 195 strikeouts in just 149 2/3 innings.
© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
As Opening Day approaches, Wheeler has been active in spring training and has yet to experience a setback in his recovery. Several former elite pitchers, including Stephen Strasburg and Matt Harvey, suffered similar injuries and were never able to return to their previous level, seeing their primes end prematurely.
Fortunately for Wheeler, he appears to be an outlier. He already has appeared dominant in camp, maintaining his elite velocity and showing no signs of discomfort. On Thursday, Phillies manager Rob Thomson shared another positive update. Wheeler will throw his first live bullpen session on Saturday (h/t Anthony SanFilippo of On Pattinson).
That matters because facing hitters is the final major hurdle before appearing in spring games, signaling he is tracking toward an early‑season return.
Per Rob Thomson, Zack Wheeler and Orion Kerkering will both throw a batting practice on Saturday.
Thomson said it’s not out of the question for Kerkering to be ready to start the season on time.— Anthony SanFilippo (@AntSanPhilly) March 12, 2026
With Wheeler taking another step forward, his eventual return will be a massive boost for a Phillies team trying to maximize its current championship window with an aging core.
Wheeler is certainly part of that timeline. After this season, he will enter the final year of his three‑year, $126 million contract extension, and he has previously said he plans to retire once the deal expires.
While he could always change his mind, he would like to add a World Series title to his list of accomplishments before he walks away. Across 11 MLB seasons with the Mets and Phillies, he has earned three All‑Star selections and a Gold Glove.
If Wheeler truly returns to form, Philadelphia’s rotation instantly regains its identity as one of the most feared groups in baseball.
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