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2026

Originally posted on Inside The Diamonds
By Chris Lavallee | Last updated Mar 28, 2026 5:35 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies today faced the Texas Rangers in the middle game of their three-game series. The Phillies have Aaron Nola on the mound, making his first start of the season. Ahead of the game, they optioned two pitchers and a position player to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The two pitchers were right-handed pitcher Orion Kerkering and Zack Wheeler, both sent on a rehab assignment. The position player was catcher Garrett Stubbs, who was sent outright to Lehigh Valley.

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Orion Kerkering

Kerkering made one appearance this spring, going one inning, allowing a run on two hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out one. He suffered a grade one hamstring strain during a bullpen session. Last season, in 69 appearances, he went 8-4 with a 3.30 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and 65 strikeouts in 60 innings.

Zack Wheeler

Doctors found a blood clot in Wheeler’s right shoulder area, ending his 2025 campaign early. He had a thoracic outlet decompression surgery. In 24 starts, he went 10-5 with a 2.71 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP, and 195 strikeouts in 149.2 innings.

Garrett Stubbs

Stubbs, in 11 games this spring, hit .208 with a .700 OPS. He had a double, a triple, three RBI, five runs scored, and two stolen bases. In five games for the Phillies last season, he went 0-1 with two runs scored. He also appeared in 71 games for Lehigh Valley, hitting .265 with a .753 OPS. He had 12 doubles, eight home runs, 50 RBI, 45 runs scored, and five stolen bases.