Phillies get much-needed boost with ace Zack Wheeler's return from IL

The initial optimism over Wheeler’s potential for a quicker return has proved true in the sense that the ace will be back on the mound Satur

day, almost exactly seven months to the day after his surgery.  What remains to be seen, of course, is whether or not Wheeler will be able to return as a front-of-the-rotation starter.  While TOS surgery is still a relatively new procedure and there isn’t a lengthy track record on recoveries, the list of pitchers who haven’t been the same after the surgery is considerably longer than the list of pitchers who returned in good form.  Merrill Kelly is the best-case scenario of a hurler who continued to pitch well after undergoing a TOS procedure.

In terms of pure results, Wheeler’s 5.85 ERA over 20 innings in five rehab starts isn’t a great sign, nor is the fact that his average fastball velocity sat at only 92.9 mph.  (Wheeler’s career average is 95.8mph.)  Still, Wheeler threw at least 72 pitches in each of his last two outings, and Phillies manager Rob Thomson suggested earlier this week that Wheeler wouldn’t be used beyond six innings or around the 90-pitch mark tonight.

Even if it may take a while before Wheeler looks like his old self, even a C+ version of Wheeler can boost a Phillies rotation that has struggled massively in the early going.  The rotation’s cumulative 5.68 ERA ranks 28th of 30 teams in starter ERA, as everyone besides Cristopher Sanchez has yet to get on track.  The starters have been only one piece of what has basically been a team-wide slump for the 8-18 Phillies, who take a 10-game losing streak into tonight’s contest.