PHILADELPHIA — Zack Wheeler will get an extended All-Star break, Rob Thomson confirmed on Thursday.
The Phillies will be cautious with their ace, holding him out of Sunday’s schedule start against Oakland after he exited his last outing with back tightness.
“We’re going to be cautious,” Thomson said before the series finale with the Dodgers. “And then we’ll line him up coming out of the break. We’ll just make sure we take care of him.”
Wheeler left Tuesday’s start after five innings and 76 pitches. Thomson said it was nothing more than spasms, with rest as the only treatment.
Wheeler allowed just three hits and one earned run on a solo homer to get to 10-4 on the season. He lowered his ERA to 2.70 in 19 starts and 116.2 innings. Wheeler was named to the All-Star Game, but as he was slated to start the Sunday before the Midsummer Classic, he was already being replaced on the roster.
Thomson didn’t name a starter for Sunday. It’s likely the Phillies will opt for a bullpen game, but who starts and who is available depends on how the first two games of the Oakland series play out.
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J.T. Realmuto (knee) did fielding work and took batting practice Thursday. Thomson said he’ll head to Clearwater to continue rehabbing through the All-Star Break, and the Phillies will evaluate after that.
Realmuto has been out since June 11, when it was announced he’ll have surgery on his meniscus. Despite his absence from the lineup, Thomson said he’s remained a constant presence in the clubhouse, assisting understudies Rafael Marchan and Garrett Stubbs.
“It’s a veteran presence, for sure,” Thomson said. “He helps out with the game planning and puts his two cents in. He’s really smart and he’s been doing it for a long time.”
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If you’re looking for potential postseason tea leaves to read in the Dodgers series, you’ve been afforded plenty. Matt Strahm striking out Shohei Ohtani as the potential go-ahead runner in the seventh Wednesday and the matchup of Jose Alvarado vs. Freddie Freeman in the eighth are salient examples.
Add Aaron Nola vs. Ohtani with the bases loaded in the second inning Thursday.
Nola got the benefit of a call off the plate on a first-pitch fastball, then buried a curve that Ohtani swung over for strike 2.
Nola went back to 95.5 miles per hour off the plate to change Ohtani’s eye line, then dropped a 79-mph curve in the dirt that the Japanese slugger fanned on.
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NOTES >> Bryce Harper (hand) returned to the lineup after missing Wednesday’s game with a bruised hand. … Taijuan Walker (finger) threw a bullpen session Wednesday that Thomson said, “looked better.” On the injured list since June 22, the starter will throw another bullpen or BP Saturday. … Michael Rucker (hand) was scheduled to throw a bullpen Thursday. He will then head to either Lehigh Valley or Jersey Shore to pitch Saturday. Rucker has been on the IL since the spring but has made nine minor league appearances, including six in Triple-A, the last on July 5.
Source: Berkshire mont
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