Daily News | There’s a chance Wheeler doesn’t face major-league hitters until the regular season
DUNEDIN, Fla. — This spring training has been atypical for every player, but few more than Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-handed starter, who finished second in NL Cy Young Award voting last year, felt some soreness in his right shoulder when he began his throwing program this past offseason. Out of caution, he decided to ramp up more slowly than he normally would, and because of that, has yet to face major-league hitters in a live game this spring.
With only four Grapefruit League games remaining, Wheeler likely won’t see live major league-caliber hitters before he makes his first regular-season start on April 12 against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park. He was scheduled to make a start against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday, but with rain in the forecast, manager Joe Girardi decided to have Wheeler throw in an intrasquad game in Clearwater instead. He threw 45 pitches, and allowed five runs after a couple plays in the field weren’t made.
“Felt good,” Wheeler said of his brief outing. “Mechanically, I felt good, on time. The ball was coming out good. A few misses here and there but that’s to be expected. Coming out of it healthy is my biggest thing right now.”Girardi says that Wheeler likely will stay behind at the Phillies’ spring training facility in Clearwater, Fla., and throw in another intrasquad game next Thursday. He’s hoping he can get up to 60 pitches in that outing.
“We haven’t had an ideal spring training in three years,” Girardi said. “And there are a lot of guys that don’t throw a lot of innings in big-league games. They’ll throw to double-A and triple-A. It happens. I can’t predict this.” “I don’t think it matters,” Wheeler said of the potential of not facing MLB hitters before his regular-season start. “I mean, you probably want to get into a game, but I’ve been communicating with [the team] the whole time and I’m pretty honest with them, so if I’m feeling like I’m ready and I’m not going to hurt the team, I’ll do that.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NFL power rankings: How have free agency, trades reshaped 2022 pecking order in offseason?.ByNateDavis takes stock of how all 32 teams stack up after a wild month in the NFL.
Read more »
Oakland A’s roster projection: Which new faces are in line for Opening Day jobs?After trading All-Stars Chris Bassitt, Matt Olson and Matt Chapman, the A’s will look decidedly different in 2022.
Read more »
Oakland A’s Howard Terminal plan faces lawsuit over environmental reviewThe lawsuit contends the report the city council approved did not properly disclose or mitigate all the potential impacts of the project.
Read more »
MLS launches its version of the G LeagueIt's the only major North American sports league with its own youth, lower division and top-flight pro divisions.
Read more »
Warriors: Curry out for regular season, will be re-evaluated before playoffsSteph Curry won’t return to the Warriors’ lineup before the playoffs.
Read more »