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Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler is set to make another rehab start tonight for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs as he continues his recovery from thoracic outlet surgery. According to the Morning Call, Wheeler is expected to throw around 60 pitches and aim for at least four innings at Coca-Cola Park, with the first pitch scheduled for just after 6:30 p.m.
Wheeler's previous outing was challenging, allowing five earned runs in three innings against Durham. Despite this, he remains on track to return to the Phillies soon, with a maximum rehab stint of 30 days. Phillies manager Rob Thomson indicated that Wheeler will make at least one more start with Lehigh Valley, rather than Double-A Reading as initially planned.
In his first rehab start, Wheeler delivered three scoreless innings, striking out three and walking one. His velocity was slightly down, but he is expected to ramp it up as he progresses. Wheeler expressed optimism about his recovery, stating he felt good and healthy after his first outing, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
The Phillies are hopeful that Wheeler will soon rejoin the major league roster, potentially after tonight's game or following another rehab appearance. His performance and recovery will be closely monitored to ensure he returns to his ace-caliber form.