Phillies

Zack Wheeler “Feels Great” Following Fourth Rehab Start

By Luke Arcaini

Published: Apr 15th, 2026 · 5:07 PM EDT

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The Phillies starting rotation has gotten off to a good, but semi-unlucky start to 2026. They should have their veteran ace back sooner rather than later.

Zack Wheeler made his fourth rehab start on Tuesday night for the Reading Phils in Somerset, NJ. He tossed 5.2 innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs, and striking out nine batters on 72 pitches. Two of those three earned runs were not “allowed” by Wheeler, but he was responsible for them.

It’s weird to watch April baseball with no Zack Wheeler. That feeling shouldn’t last much longer.

“Yeah, he said he felt really good about it (his start), and he feels good today,” Rob Thomson said pregame on Wednesday. “Normal after a start. That was good news, so we’re still on line for Sunday.”

Wheeler will make what could be his final rehab start for Reading on Sunday in Somerset. He’ll throw 90 pitches, the closest he’s gotten to a normal start yet. After that, it’ll be up to the Phillies, but also Wheeler himself. Rob Thomson noted a few days back that when a veteran pitcher like Wheeler goes on a rehab assignment, a lot of it is up to the pitcher himself. The Phillies trust Zack Wheeler. They know he won’t rush himself back onto the mound. He, and the coaching staff, know that the Phillies need Wheeler if they want to make a run at a World Series. July-October means a lot more than April.

If any team in baseball lost a pitcher like Wheeler, they’d be in deep trouble. The Phillies are an outlier. They still have one of the best group of starters in the league, even without the 3-time runner up Cy Young. The rotation, as a whole, is 4th in the league in strikeouts, yet, 21st in ERA. Some of that has to do with Taijuan Walker’s 1st-inning struggles, and some has to do with a couple blow-up innings from Jesus Luzardo. But the last 31 days, as a whole, has been a success for the rotation with the absence of Wheeler.

Cristopher Sanchez is almost there. He’s not in the groove that he was last year just yet, but the team is confident that he’ll get back there. Aaron Nola hasn’t been perfect, but it’s a major improvement from last April. Jesus Luzardo has struggled with the blow-up inning, but has flashed serious strikeout stuff once again. Andrew Painter has looked the part for just three starts as a rookie.

Other Phillies Notes:

• Zach Pop went on the 15-day IL on Wednesday (retro to 4/13) with a right calf strain. Thomson said Pop was doing agility drills in the outfield before Tuesday’s game and felt something in his calf.
• Kyle Backhus was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace Pop. Backhus struggled to start the season, but tossed three scoreless innings with five strikeouts for the Iron Pigs.
• Wednesday is just a normal day-off for Justin Crawford, nothing injury related. Thomson wanted to get him off of his feet for a day, with an addition to the off-day on Thursday. Crawford is 1 for his last 12 at the plate.