WASHINGTON — Dave Dombrowski had troubling news to share early Saturday evening from the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park.
Minutes after the Phillies’ 2-0 loss to Washington, Dombrowski announced that Zack Wheeler is being placed on the 15-day injured list with a “right upper extremity blood clot.”
The Phillies’ president of baseball operations was joined by head athletic trainer Paul Buchheit.
“There’s not a whole lot we can say on it at this time,” Dombrowski said, “but I commend Paul and the doctors for finding this because it could’ve been a much more trying situation than what it is.”
The 35-year-old Wheeler has been a bona fide ace since signing with the Phillies in December of 2019. He’s gone 69-37 with a 2.91 ERA and done stellar work in the playoffs. This season, Wheeler has a 10-5 mark and 2.71 ERA.
Asked about the location of the clot, Buchheit confirmed it’s in the region of Wheeler’s right shoulder.
Wheeler had one August start pushed back because of shoulder soreness and then made two on-schedule appearances. His velocity was decreased against the Rangers and he threw five innings Friday in the Phillies’ win over the Nationals.
“Zack had been feeling better after his right shoulder soreness, but yesterday some symptoms had changed,” Buchheit said. “He felt a little heaviness. The doctors here were great in helping to diagnose and expediting that diagnosis this morning.”
Buchheit noted that there’s not yet a definitive prognosis or treatment plan for Wheeler. He did not believe the clot was related to Wheeler’s prior shoulder soreness.
“It’s hard to say, but I don’t think so,” Buchheit said. “Talking with our doctors, it’s maybe independent. Again, there weren’t these types of symptoms prior, so I do think they were independent.”
The Phillies plan to evaluate Wheeler further early next week in Philadelphia.
For his teammates, it’s jarring news.
“It’s obviously scary. … Obviously, we’re praying for him, trying to keep in contact with him,” Taijuan Walker said. “But I know that he knows we’re all here for him.”
As far as the starting pitching picture, Aaron Nola will return Sunday and Phillies manager Rob Thomson will scrap his short-term plan of a six-man rotation.
“We don’t know the timeline,” Thomson said. “I’m thinking a lot about Zack and his family because it’s not a hamstring injury or something like…