CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Phillies opened Spring Training last month with a few questions about the rotation.
So far, they like the answers they’ve gotten.
Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler threw a two-inning live BP on Wednesday morning inside a mostly empty BayCare Ballpark. It was his second live BP of the spring, which is another step toward his return to the Phillies’ rotation, following a blood clot near his right shoulder that required thoracic outlet decompression surgery in September.
“What’s next?” Wheeler said. “Have to ask the higher ups.”
Wheeler wants to rejoin the Phillies’ rotation as soon as possible, but he doesn’t need to rush things. Cristopher Sánchez finished second for NL Cy Young last year. It could be announced as early as Thursday that he will be the Phillies’ Opening Day starter on March 26.
Aaron Nola could pitch the season’s second game, following a fantastic performance for Italy in the World Baseball Classic. He is confident he will bounce back from the worst year of his career. Jesús Luzardo, who just signed a five-year, $135 million contract extension this month, could pitch the third game.
Andrew Painter and Taijuan Walker will follow them.
Painter is the Phillies’ No. 2 prospect and the No. 28 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He pitched four scoreless innings in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the Braves in North Port, allowing one hit and one walk and striking out three.
He has a 2.31 ERA in four Grapefruit League starts.
“After today, the confidence should be pretty high,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “I mean he took down pretty good lineup. And his stuff was excellent. … That was the best outing I've personally seen in person.”
Painter could pitch a simulated game next week in Philadelphia, then make his next start in the regular season.
“I’m just trying to stay in the present and look forward to each and every start,” Painter said. “I think that'll hit when the time comes, and the next start is a big league start. I think that's kind of when the realization will hit.
“I think I'm in a good spot. Just build off of each one. I thought last week, came out in the third inning after a long sit, came out probably a little more passive. Velo is down, trying to just get in the zone. Whereas today, I mean, we had a long first half. So it was another test. So it was like, How can I build off of that last one? What can I learn from that last one? I gotta go out and win every pitch. And then there's to be conviction every pitch.”
The Phillies could employ a six-man rotation whenever Wheeler returns. Or they just might need to make room for him.
But that decision is weeks away.
If this were a normal spring for Wheeler, he would be in the late-February stage of camp, meaning he should be close to his first spring start. His next step could be another live BP or his first start, most likely in a Minor League game at Carpenter Complex.
“I feel like I am right now where I’d be in a buildup situation,” Wheeler said. “I feel like I should be going into live BPs, that’s how I’d normally feel in years past. … Felt good. Arm felt good. Still need to figure it out, out of the stretch a little bit, just a tick off. Other than that, everything seemed to be working and coming out well. Just another step.”
Wheeler figures his velocity was around 93 mph, which is where he thinks it normally is during this time in a typical build up.
“Fastball felt really good out of the windup,” he said. “It was just a little tough out of the stretch for whatever reason. My bullpens have been a little wacky out of the stretch. But it felt better than that so we’re going in the right direction.”
If everything continues as planned, Wheeler could rejoin the Phillies’ rotation in April. The Phillies will be in a lot of cold-weather locations in the season's opening month, including Philadelphia, Colorado and Chicago.
No big deal.
“It’s not fun to pitch in cold weather in general,” Wheeler said. “But I don’t think it affects me. When I get back, I get back, it doesn’t matter where or when.”