Aug 15, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) pitches against Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews (3) during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
It would have been easy to come on here after the Phillies were shutout for the second time this week on Saturday, this time by a guy, Cade Cavalli, making just his fourth Big League start, losing 2-0, and absolutely rip the offense.
They deserve the criticism after a game with very little approach at the plate aside form Trea Turner, who had three hits.
But there's plenty of time to talk about the foul smell emanating from the Phillies batters boxes, because three paragraphs into this post, and I've buried the lede.
Zack Wheeler, who pitched better on Friday than he had in his previous five starts and said he felt normal and started to find his command again in the third inning, is going on the I.L.
Dave Dombrowski just told assembled media here in DC that Zack Wheeler is going on the IL with an “upper extremity blood clot.”
No timeline. More testing once the team gets back to Philly.
— Jake Mintz (@Jake_Mintz) August 16, 2025
Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters after the game that Wheeler has an "upper extremity blood clot" near his right shoulder.
Wheeler reported to trainers late Friday night that he was feeling "heaviness" in his shoulder. The Washington Nationals medical staff examined him and discovered the blood clot.
There wasn't anything more that Dombrowski or the trainers could offer on Wheeler's condition other than say that he will be seen by team doctors in Philadelphia and a full prognosis and plan will be formulated thereafter.
There was no timetable given for his return.
Blood clots in athletes are serious issues. The most notable recent example was San Antonio Spurs sensation Victor Wembayana, who had a blood clot in his shoulder area as well that was announced after the All-Star game in February. He missed the remainder of the Spurs season.
While the length of treatment for a blood clot is different for each person, usually blood thinner treatments are at minimum a process of a few months. Athletes in contact sports usually have to miss more time, because of the dangers related to the clot.
However, this isn't something that even a weekend warrior should mess around with in slow pitch softball, let alone a $45 million-a-year Cy Young candidate.
Wheeler, 35, is 10-5 this season with a 2.71 ERA in 149 2/3 innings of work. He has 195 strikeouts, which currently leads the majors.
From a baseball perspective, the Phillies are at least fortunate that they have starting pitching depth - Aaron Nola is returning from his own three-month stint on the I.L. on Sunday - but losing Wheeler for any length of time is a big blow to a team that had championship aspirations that were hitched almost entirely to the fact that they had the best starting rotation in baseball, and Wheeler was at the top of it.
In addition, Taijuan Walker has been one of the best comeback stories of the year, as he pitched really well again Saturday, even though he was a hard-luck loser, allowing the two runs in 6 2/3 innings of work. And Cristopher Sanchez will now be battling Pittsburgh's Paul Skenes for the Cy Young Award in the N.L. over the final six weeks of the season.
The important thing, though is Wheeler getting treatment and knocking this thing out. Baseball and a championship are a distant second to his health, and it's a good thing the doctors found it now in his shoulder area and the clot hasn't traveled to a part of his body that would be more life threatening.
