Phillies' Kyle Schwarber Sends Message After Zack Wheeler News

Wheeler was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right shoulder and placed on the 15-day IL before the team's bout with the Washington Nationals. Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber later commented on the situation.

“Baseball is baseball,” the 32-year-old said. “When it comes to someone’s health like that, we need him healthy first. He’s got a family, so we want to get him feeling good for them, and get him back to speed whenever we can.”

Zack Wheeler's Recovery Timeline Unknown

The team will conduct further testing to determine a recovery timeline the week of August 17, but there's no guarantee that Wheeler will be available for the playoffs, via Varnes. It would be a devastating loss if the three-time All-Star doesn't return, as he leads baseball with 195 strikeouts and is fourth with a 0.94 WHIP. He's also eighth in ERA.

Southpaw Cristopher Sanchez has also been elite for the Phillies this season, as he's fourth with a 2.45 ERA and 11th with 157 strikeouts. However, the rest of their rotation is shaky.

Fellow southpaw Jesus Luzardo has a 4.21 ERA, and southpaw Ranger Suarez has a 6.75 ERA in August. Meanwhile, right-hander Aaron Nola has a 6.16 ERA in nine starts this year.

Although the team is on top of the division, it's also 8.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL's top seed, and Wheeler's absence will make that gap even harder to close. Teams that finish as the top seeds in their leagues guarantee home-field advantage in their respective Division and Championship Series.

Up next for Philadelphia is another matchup with Washington on Sunday morning. Nola will start on the mound against Nationals southpaw Mitchell Parker.