The Philadelphia Phillies might have a big concern heading into the 2026 MLB season.
The Philadelphia Phillies are inching closer and closer to Opening Day, and while they might still be the favorites in the NL East, it's not like they don't have serious concerns.
Throughout the offseason, most of the attention had been on the Phillies' offense and whether or not they had enough pop around Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper heading into 2026, but there may be cause for worry when it comes to another issue.
Starting pitching.
Philadelphia's starting rotation has been a major strength in previous years, but the Phillies lost Ranger Suarez to free agency, and Zack Wheeler is recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome.
In terms of the latter, Jayson Stark of The Athletic isn't so sure that Wheeler will be in form once he returns.
"Cristopher Sanchez [and] Jesus Luzardo, they look great, but when does Zack Wheeler come back? Are we sure he'll be the same when he does?" Stark said on 97.5 The Fanatic. "I've talked to Zack [and] he is so confident he's going to be himself, but there's a wide range of outcomes with that surgery that he had."
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler. Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images.Wheeler threw a live batting practice on Saturday, representing the first time he has faced hitters since last season.
While that is certainly a significant step in Wheeler's recovery, Stark is right in saying that we really don't know how the right-hander will perform once he is back on the mound for meaningful games.
Prior to going down in 2025, Wheeler had logged a 2.71 ERA, allowing 107 hits while racking up 195 strikeouts over 149.2 innings of work. He earned his third All-Star selection as a result.
Wheeler has been a lynchpin in the Phillies' rotation since arriving in 2020, boasting a 2.91 ERA across 157 starts in the City of Brotherly Love. He also owns a sparkling 1.016 WHIP while averaging 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
If the 35-year-old can recapture that form, then sure; Philadelphia's pitching staff should be just fine, but he if he doesn't? There is no doubt that the Phillies might be in some trouble.
Hopefully, everything goes smoothly for Wheeler.
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