Phillies Make Zack Wheeler Decision After Injury Update

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Aug 6, 2025 12:54 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies have surged recently, winning three straight games and extending their lead over the New York Mets in the NL East to 2.5 games.

A large part of their successful season (currently sitting at 65–48) has been their ace, Zack Wheeler, who has put together one of his best years yet during his Phillies tenure.

The 35-year-old right-hander made his second consecutive All-Star appearance in 2025 and third overall, and he’s continued that dominance into the second half.

Over 22 starts, Wheeler has pitched 139.2 innings, struck out 182 batters, and is 9–5 with a 2.64 ERA—continuing to improve despite being past the physical prime of his career.

Zack Wheeler Experiences Shoulder Tightness

Ahead of the weekend series against the Texas Rangers, the Phillies made a change to their projected rotation, pushing Wheeler’s start back two days from Friday to Sunday.

Manager Rob Thomson announced that Wheeler experienced right shoulder stiffness following his start last Saturday against the Detroit Tigers and was sent for an MRI, which came back clean.

Wheeler played catch on Wednesday, but Thomson reiterated that the team would play it safe with their ace as October baseball approaches.

Phillies are bumping Zack Wheeler back two days to Sunday. He complained of some shoulder stiffness. They sent him for an MRI. It was clean, Rob Thomson said. Wheeler played catch today.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) August 6, 2025

Wheeler’s Phillies Legacy Cemented With Latest Dominant Season

Wheeler’s importance to Philadelphia extends far beyond this season. He originally arrived on a five-year, $118 million deal signed in December 2019 after five seasons with the Mets. In March 2024, he signed a three-year, $126 million extension with the Phillies, keeping him under contract through 2027, and he’s made it clear he plans to retire at the conclusion of that deal.

Since his arrival, Wheeler has been the Phillies’ most consistent arm and elevated his game to the next level. Over 155 starts, he’s compiled a 68–37 record, 2.90 ERA, and 1,081 strikeouts. He’s also played a crucial role in the team’s playoff success, helping them reach multiple championship series and a World Series trip in 2022.

Wheeler has risen to another level in the postseason, going 4–3 with a 2.18 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 12 appearances across three playoff runs. His health will be the most important piece of Philadelphia’s postseason hopes, and the team owes it to their franchise star to optimize his final years in the big leagues.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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