Zack Wheeler’s third rehab outing is complete, still feels a “little bit off”

Zack Wheeler made his third rehab start for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Wednesday night and this one was the best of the three. Four and a third innings, three hits, one earned run, one walk, and six strikeouts on 61 pitches with 44 strikes. Clean, efficient, and the kind of outing that moves the timeline forward.

Zack Wheeler: 4.1 IP | 6 K

Check out Zack Wheeler sweepers, they're sweeping the nation! (Or at least the International League 😏)

The @Phillies ace stacks up 6 strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball in his latest @IronPigs rehab outing: pic.twitter.com/J7n0ZKFAkK

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 8, 2026

The velocity is the thing to track and Wednesday gave some reason for cautious optimism. He sat 93.8 in the first inning, 93.0 in the second, 92.5 in the third, and 92.7 in the fourth.

The fade as the outing progressed is normal and expected as he builds back up. The floor of 92.5 is still below the 96 mph average he posted last season but the trend across his three rehab starts is moving in the right direction.

Zack Wheeler made another rehab start in AAA today, firing off 61 pitches with 6 K over 4.1 IP

Wheeler is making his way back from venous thoracic outlet syndrome that has kept him out since last August. The pitch count is encouraging, but the velocity is understandably down pic.twitter.com/FBohbdthBP

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) April 9, 2026

The Phillies need Wheeler. The offense has been inconsistent, the rotation has been doing its job without him, and the depth behind the top four starters is a legitimate concern over a full season.

When Wheeler is right he is one of the five best pitchers in baseball and this team’s ceiling looks completely different with him slotted into the front of the rotation.

Zack Wheeler still feels off…

Asked Zack Wheeler how close he feels to rejoining the staff:

“I’m still a little bit off, that’s why you take these starts so can tinker here and there but not too much … there’s nothing more I can do but get those reps in.” #Phillies pic.twitter.com/kocNRMoUzr

— Cory Nidoh (@Cory_Nidoh) April 9, 2026

Either way, Wednesday was a step in that direction. One more strong outing and he could be back in Philadelphia before the end of April.

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