On Saturday evening, the Philadelphia Phillies dropped the third game of their series with the Washington Nationals 2-0. But that wasn't the worst news that fans got on Saturday. Just half an hour after the final out was recorded, news broke that ace right-hander Zack Wheeler had been placed on the 15-day injured list with a scary and ominous ailment.
Just a day after dodging an injury scare with closer Jhoan Duran, the Phillies announced that Wheeler had been diagnosed with a right upper-extremity blood clot, near his right shoulder.
Following today’s game, the Phillies placed right-hander pitcher Zack Wheeler on the 15-day injured list with a Right Upper Extremity Blood Clot.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 16, 2025
Phillies place Zack Wheeler on 15-day IL with blood clot, throwing season into uncharted territory
While we don't know the severity of Wheeler's situation at this time — blood clots can be serious medical issues. There's no known timeline for his return to the Phillies as yet.
Wheeler hadn't looked like himself since throwing a complete game masterpiece against the Cincinnati Reds on July 6. Since then, the 35-year-old has a 4.54 ERA in six starts and has experienced issues with both command and a drop in velocity. He reported feeling shoulder soreness last week and had his start against the Texas Rangers pushed back a couple of days.
According to The Athletic's Carlotte Varnes, Wheeler felt normal before his start on Friday against the Nationals. Apparently, he "noticed new symptoms" after throwing five innings. Phillies head athletic trainer Paul Buchheit told Varnes that his symptoms included heaviness (subscription required), per Varnes.
In 24 starts this season, the perennial Cy Young contender is 10-5 with a 2.71 ERA and 195 strikeouts in 149 2/3 innings. The trip to the injured list will take him out of the running for his first career Cy Young Award, but Phillies fans will likely be more concerned that Wheeler comes out of this healthy.
The loss of Wheeler to the Phillies' starting rotation can't be understated. There's no way to replace a pitcher of his caliber, and now the team's World Series aspirations hang in the balance.
The rest of the rotation will have to carry the load for as long as Wheeler remains sidelined. Luckily for the Phillies, veteran right-hander Taijuan Walker has stepped up as a starter again as of late and will help Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez, Jesús Luzardo and the soon-to-return Aaron Nola get through the next 15 days, or as long as Wheeler is out of action.