Zack Wheeler expected to make two more rehab starts before joining the Phillies in late April

Rob Thomson confirmed Friday that Zack Wheeler is on track and scheduled to make two more rehab starts before rejoining the rotation.

The most likely return date is sometime during the Atlanta series from April 24th through 26th. If the Phillies decide to skip his fifth rehab start there is a chance he is back as early as April 19th against Atlanta at Citizens Bank Park or during the Cubs series in Chicago from April 20th through 23rd.

The Phillies are 6-7 and have scored in one of their last 29 innings. While he won’t help the offense, this rotation needs Zack Wheeler right now and thankfully, it sounds like he’s almost ready.

Zack Wheeler’s third rehab start on Wednesday with Lehigh Valley was his best yet. Four and a third innings, three hits, one run, one walk, six strikeouts on 61 pitches.

The fourth start is scheduled for Tuesday with Double-A Reading. The fifth on April 19th, same location. Two more outings and then he is back where he belongs.

Zack Wheeler Rehab Start No. 3

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

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

The velocity is the thing everyone is tracking and it is moving in the right direction. He averaged 92.9 mph on his four-seamer Wednesday and touched 94.3.

He has averaged 92.9 across all three rehab starts. Last season before the blood clot near his right shoulder ended his year in August he was averaging 96.1.

There is still ground to make up but the trend line is good and his command has been sharp throughout.

Here is what this means for the Phillies.

An offense that cannot score right now is going to look a lot more forgivable when Wheeler is going seven innings and the bullpen is not getting overworked every other night. One of the five best pitchers in baseball slotting into the top of the rotation makes every single other problem on this roster easier to manage.

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