Phillies Mailbag: Wheeler’s Absence, Roster Expansion, Prospects

We are back once again with the 97.3 ESPN Phillies Mailbag.  Each week we take your questions and answer them on The Sports Bash with Mike Gill.  Tune in Tuesday afternoons to hear your questions answered on the air.

Can the Phillies win a World Series without Zack Wheeler?
~Gary

We learned this past week that Phillies ace Zack Wheeler will miss six to eight months.  Previously diangosed with a blood clot in his right upper extremity, Wheeler has also been diagnosed with Thoractic Outlet Syndrome.  First and foremost, the Phillies and fanbase are worried about Wheeler's health.  The news on that front is pretty good and he is expected to make a full recovery.

But there is no doubt that Wheeler's absence on the baseball field willl be missed.  Besides being a Cy Young candidate, Wheeler has been dominant in the playoffs.

In the playoffs, Wheeler has a 2.18 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 12 career appearances.  In the NLCS in particular, Wheeler is 3-0 with a 1.63 ERA and 33 strikeouts over five apperances.

The Phillies rotation as constructed are a strong bet to close out the season with the Phillies winning the National League East and probably bypassing the Wild Card round.

While Wheeler's absence might make one ask questions, I would ask this: Who on the other playoff teams cannot match up with Cristopher Sanchez in a game one?  Of course we are saying this after Sanchez's worst start of the season.  But overall he has been stellar in 2025.

In game two, we are looking at a Ranger Suarez start.  He would be able to match up with any other number two starter out there.

The wild card, of course, is Aaron Nola.   Will he get back on track?  Nola sailed through five innings in his second start back from the injured list.  He ultimately got through six, allowing two earned runs on two homers in the sixth inning.

It was an improvement for Nola from his first start back.  I would imagine that he would continue to build stamina.  His velocity was ticking upward and he had some nice movement on his pitches against the Nationals.

And there is Jesus Luzardo as well, who has been a very good pitcher for the Phillies this year.  After the pitch-tipping seems be behind him, he has settled in nicely.

I think the Phillies pitching will be fine; it was helpful that the starting rotation was their deepest area.  I am more concerned about the offense falling asleep as it did last night once the Phillies had a 3-0 lead.

When the rosters expand to 28, who do you add?
~Eric

My two choices would be to have Max Lazar return to add pitching depth and for catcher Garrett Stubbs to return to the major league roster.  But there are some roster considerations the Phillies must factor in before they can do so.

The Phillies have three candidates to enter the mix: Lazar, Daniel Robert, and Alan Rangel.

Lazar was up and down for the Phillies this season; he looked good at some moments and then had a few meltdowns.  Overall, I think he's a better choice for the roster  But Lazar, optioned on August 18, must spend 15 days in the minor leagues before he can return.   The 15th day is August 2..

The 15th day for Robert is August 1

That could mean that Rangel comes up first.  But that could happen anyway, if the Phillies decide to finally show mercy to Jordan Romano and let him get a fresh start somewhere else.

Rangel has been stretching himself out to be a starter at Triple-A.  The Phillies might prefer to have a starter stretched out, but after last night, that could change.  There would be little risk in bringing Rangel up and then right back down; if there is an injury he would not have to wait 15 days in the minor leagues.

The rules allow for just one more pitcher, with 14 total.  I think Andrew Painter could get a look in the last week or two, but not before that.

Speaking of Painter, the only reason not to summon Stubbs would be that the Phillies prefer that he works with Painter a week longer.  I think he's been a good mentor to Painter this season.  I think he has a shot to make the playoff roster over Rafael Marchan, too.

If Stubbs hangs in Triple-A with Painter longer, Otto Kemp and Johan Rojas remain on the 40-man roster for the extra position player slot.

Why haven’t the Phillies had a player debut at Age 19 or 20 in the last half a century? They Braves/Marlins have had multiple debuts at Age 19/20 in the 2000s.
~Dane

When I think of players to rise through a system at 19 or 20 years old, some of the big names come to mind.  Miguel Cabrera.  Albert Pujols.  Bryce Harper.  But players like that are a rare breed.

In 2025, the youngest player has been 21 years old.

I think that it's not about the player's age, but readiness for Major League Baseball.  When the Nationals drafted Harper with the first overall pick in 2010, it was clear that he was on the quick path to the Major Leagues.  He had foregone his senior year of high school to prep for the draft.

We do not see that much anymore. (And let's remember: when the Phillies had the first overall pick in 2017, there was not much in that draft from which to choose).

The level of talent in MLB is so high compared to the past, that it is rare to get a hold of one.  And let's not forget: the Phillies were in the World Series in 2009, so they were not picking first in the 2010 draft.  If they had, they surely would have drafted Harper.

Cabrera (Marlins) and Pujols (Cardinals) were really good signings out of Venzuela as teenagers.

I would not worry so much about the age, but the quality of player they can bring along.  The Phillies "rebuild era of the mid-2010s was not great.  Hopefully the next batch will be better (Painter, etc.).