DYERSVILLE, IA – AUGUST 13: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on prior to the MLB Field of Dreams game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Minnesota Twins at MLB Field at Field of Dreams on Thursday, August 13, 2026 in Dyersville, Iowa. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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The Philadelphia Phillies are entering the final weeks of the regular season with their margin for error narrowing. Their bullpen has remained a major concern, putting even more pressure on a starting rotation that has already dealt with injuries and inconsistency as October approaches.
Until emerging star Jesus Luzardo can return from the injured list, questions about the bridge between the team’s rotation and elite closer Jhoan Duran will continue to grow. The Phillies continue to rely on questionable bridge relievers, like Alex McFarlane, Jonathan Bowlan and Tim Mayza.
“Until then, the bridge from Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sanchez to Duran is murkier than ever,” Matt Gelb wrote for The Athletic. “McFarlane, a veteran of 15 big-league games, is vital to everything. So is Bowlan’s health. Mayza has gained importance. So has Chase Shugart, used mostly as a long reliever all season.”
Among the starts, that uncertainty makes Wheeler’s role particularly important as the veteran right-hander approaches a crossroads in his career.
Philadelphia Phillies Superstar Zack Wheeler Reflects On Final Remaining Starts
Amid an impressive return from surgery and with only one year remaining on his contract, Wheeler acknowledged that he is nearing the end of his playing days.
Wheeler is pitching at a high level again after a blood clot near his right shoulder led to surgery for venous thoracic outlet syndrome, forcing him to miss the remainder of that season.
He returned in April and has since reestablished himself as arguably the Phillies’ most important rotation anchor. On September 16, Wheeler threw seven scoreless innings against the Washington Nationals, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out five. The performance lowered his ERA to 2.99 through 26 starts.
But even while competing at that level, Wheeler has begun looking at some of his remaining road trips differently. During a trip this season to the Boston Red Sox’s Fenway Park, for instance, Wheeler drank in the historic surroundings as he acknowledged he could be preparing for his final start in that ballpark.
“Part of that’s me probably winding down my career,” Wheeler explained, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber. “I’ve only got one more year on this contract. I don’t know if I’m going to play after that. But just going into those stadiums that maybe I won’t go back to — Anaheim, Detroit, Boston — we’re not going to play those teams there next year. So, kind of just soaking that in and enjoying it a little bit more this year than most years.”
Philadelphia Phillies Relying On Zack Wheeler As Career Nears End
The timing of Wheeler’s comments is notable for a Phillies team that needs its starting pitchers to carry an increasingly heavy load.
Wheeler’s recent rebound has provided some stability. He followed a difficult stretch in August with four consecutive starts of at least six innings while allowing one run or fewer, including his seven-inning shutout of Washington.
Now, the Phillies need that version of Wheeler to continue into October.
For Wheeler, however, the remaining starts also carry a personal significance. Whether his current contract represents the final chapter remains undecided, but he has clearly begun appreciating the possibility that some of these ballparks and moments could be among his last.
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