PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies ace Zack Wheeler made his fifth, and perhaps final, rehab start on Sunday with Double-A Reading.
He is likely to rejoin the Phillies’ rotation next weekend in Atlanta.
“Velocity was down a little bit, but I think that’s understandable considering the conditions,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “It was very cold.”
Wheeler allowed six hits, four runs, one walk and two home runs in four innings in a 7-6 win against Somerset in Bridgewater, N.J. He struck out four. He threw 77 pitches (48 strikes).
The Phillies wanted Wheeler to throw 90 pitches on Sunday, but Thomson said there was a lot of time between innings, so they decided to end his afternoon early.
So, Wheeler’s back next weekend?
“Well, we’ve got to get him back here and talk to him,” Thomson said.
Thomson mentioned recently that there is enough time left on Wheeler’s 30-day rehab window to make a sixth rehab start. It’s unclear under what conditions that would happen, which is why Wheeler is most likely to make his next start with the Phillies during next weekend's series against the Braves.
Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker will not start on Wednesday, but he will pitch in the game. The Phillies will use an opener instead. Walker is expected to move to the bullpen when Wheeler returns.