Philadelphia Phillies

Zack Wheeler

SP

After working 5.2 innings and posting a 9:0 K:BB in his previous appearance for Reading on Tuesday, Wheeler took a step back with his command and control Sunday. He spotted 48 of his 77 pitches for strikes and yielded a solo home run and a three-run blast, bringing his ERA up to 5.85 and his WHIP to 1.20 over his five rehab starts between Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Though his results haven't been as strong as the Phillies might have hoped, Wheeler has been able to progressively build up his pitch counts and looks ready to handle a typical starter's workload in his next outing, which is expected to come with the big club. Wheeler tentatively lines up to return from the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 Phillies debut during next weekend's series in Atlanta.

Jhoan Duran

RP

The right-hander continues to impress to begin his first full season as the Phillies' closer. Duran is 5-for-5 in converting saves chances in 2026, posting a 1.35 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 8:0 K:BB through 6.2 innings.

Zach Pop

RP

Andrew Painter had been lined up to start the series finale, but Pop will take the hill to begin the game after Painter was a late scratch due to a migraine. Pop hasn't covered more than an inning in any of his appearances in spring training nor during any of his six relief outings so far during the regular season, so he's not expected to provide the Phillies with much length in his first MLB start.

Jonathan Bowlan

RP

Bowlan had a mini-breakout in 2025 in his first full season as a reliever, posting a 3.86 ERA and 46:17 K:BB over 44.1 innings with the Royals. The 29-year-old righty had significant splits, as he held right-handed bats to a .182/.255/.250 batting line but was torched by lefties to the tune of a .288/.358/.575 line. Bowlan is not yet eligible for salary arbitration and will be under team control through 2031.

J.T. Realmuto

C

Realmuto will be on the bench for a second straight game while he contends with a sore back, which first surfaced during Friday's 9-0 loss to Atlanta. According to Cole Weintraub of NBC Sports Philadelphia, manager Rob Thomson said prior to Sunday's 4-2 loss to Atlanta that Realmuto was available for that game only in an emergency and added that the Phillies don't view the back issue as a long-term concern. That being said, if Realmuto is unable to resume catching within the next day or two, a stint on the 10-day injured list would become a likelier outcome.