Zack Wheeler will miss final start before All-Star break

Zack Wheeler will miss final start before All-Star break originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia

Zack Wheeler will not start Sunday in the Phillies’ final game before the All-Star break because of back spasms.

Wheeler left Tuesday’s victory with back tightness after limiting the Dodgers to one run in five innings on 76 pitches. His turn was scheduled for the series finale against Oakland to close out the first half, but the Phillies are exercising caution by giving him an extended break.

They think Wheeler will be ready to go once the second half begins on July 19 in Pittsburgh.

“We’re going to be cautious,” coach Rob Thomson said Thursday afternoon. “We’ll line him up after halftime. We haven’t exactly lined him up yet, but we’ll just take care of him.”

Sunday’s entry is TBD. The Phillies have Aaron Nola on Thursday with Ranger Suarez on Friday. Tyler Phillips will make his first major league start on Saturday after striking out seven in four innings of relief last weekend in Atlanta.

Michael Mercado is still on the active roster after being hit by the Braves and could be an option to start on Sunday, or the Phils could throw a bullpen game. The unique timing just before the All-Star break gives them the opportunity to use their entire relief corps.

“I don’t know,” said Thomson. “It all depends on what happens on Friday and Saturday. Hopefully we won’t use too much of our bullpen on Saturday and we can just get our guys out there and have them work at halftime.”

It helps that the final series is against Atlético, who have been 4-25 on the road since May 12.

Catcher JT Realmuto will be sidelined until after the All-Star break as he recovers from a meniscectomy on his right knee. He continues to perform catching and hitting drills on the field before games and will fly to Clearwater next week for more rehab, “so we’ll see what we have after the break,” Thomson said.