Zack Wheeler was supposed to pitch the Toronto Blue Jays series opener on Tuesday. Wheeler’s wife Dominique is expecting their fourth child shortly, therefore his next start will be delayed till the Pirates series.
Instead of pitching on Wednesday, Cristopher Sánchez will now do it on Tuesday. The second big league start for Mick Abel was rescheduled from Thursday to Wednesday. On Thursday, Jesús Luzardo will begin his usual recuperation period.
Starting on Tuesday, Wheeler is probably going to be placed on the paternity list. Although the Phillies could potentially bring up an additional pitcher from the 40-man roster for Tuesday’s game and send him back down on Wednesday for Abel, that might be the equivalent move that puts Abel back on the major league roster.
The maximum amount of time that players may be placed on the paternity list is three days. In order to start the series opener against the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Friday, Wheeler is expected to be taken off the paternity list. Ranger Suárez will start on Saturday.
The Phillies, losers of four straight, could use some length out of the starting staff. Suárez, who accomplished it in both of his outings, was the only Phillies starter to complete six innings during the most recent homestand.
Luzardo is making just his fourth start of the season while on regular rest after having his weakest performance to date. Since being lifted early from a game against the Mets on April 22, Sánchez has only thrown more over 90 pitches in a start once. Abel will be trying to improve on his amazing May 18 MLB debut, in which he pitched six scoreless innings and struck out nine Pirates batters. It should be more difficult to beat the Blue Jays lineup.
