Phillies Place Ace Zack Wheeler on 15-Day IL with Blood Clot

Philadelphia Phillies ace pitcher Zack Wheeler has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a blood clot near his right shoulder, a development confirmed by team president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. Wheeler, who is 35 years old, currently leads the majors in strikeouts with 195 and holds a 10-5 record with a 2.71 ERA this season, making him a strong candidate for the National League Cy Young Award. The team has not provided a timeline for Wheeler's return, emphasizing caution as he undergoes further evaluation in Philadelphia. This news comes as the Phillies were preparing to activate Aaron Nola from the 60-day injured list, meaning their rotation will be impacted by Wheeler's absence. Wheeler had been experiencing shoulder fatigue in recent weeks, which was likely related to the clotting issue now diagnosed. The Phillies must adjust their pitching strategies moving forward, with uncertainty about Wheeler's future availability and performance.