Zack Wheeler DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Athletic's Matt Gelb reports that the Philadelphia Phillies expect right-hander Zack Wheeler (personal) to come off the paternity list and rejoin their starting rotation early next week in a home series against the Chicago Cubs. Wheeler was placed on the paternity list on Wednesday after missing his normally scheduled start in Toronto against the Blue Jays. The 35-year-old veteran will also miss the upcoming series in Pittsburgh against the last-place Pirates. Wheeler's next scheduled matchup against the Cubs is as tough as they come, but he's once again a must-start in fantasy in 2025. As a result of pushing Wheeler back even further than this weekend, the Phillies will roll with a bullpen game against the Bucs on Friday. Wheeler has been great for fantasy managers again this year, going 6-2 with a 2.96 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 94 K's in 76 frames.

The Philadelphia Phillies announced on Wednesday that they placed right-hander Zack Wheeler on the paternity list and recalled right-handed pitching prospect Mick Abel from Triple-A Lehigh Valley in a corresponding move. With Wheeler away from the team for a few days, Abel will come up from the minors to make a spot start in Toronto against the Blue Jays. We knew that Wheeler wouldn't be available for the series in Canada, but he should return to the team for a very favorable matchup this weekend in Pittsburgh against the last-place Pirates. Fantasy managers will definitely want to keep Wheeler back into their starting lineups for that one. The Pirates offense is fourth-worst in baseball with a .641 OPS, while Wheeler remains a fantasy ace with an ERA under 3.00 and 94 K's in 76 innings over his 12 starts.

The Philadelphia Phillies are adjusting their starting rotation this week as they enter a new series in Toronto against the Blue Jays on Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Matt Gelb, and they will skip right-hander Zack Wheeler (personal) with his wife due to give birth any day now. As a result, the Phils will go with left-hander Cristopher Sanchez on Tuesday, right-handed pitching prospect Mick Abel on Wednesday and left-hander Jesus Luzardo in the series finale on Thursday. It's unclear when the 35-year-old Wheeler will make his 13th start of the season, but it should come at some point this weekend in an excellent matchup against the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates. Wheeler continues to be a must-start in fantasy every time he toes the rubber. The former first-rounder has gone 6-2 with a 2.96 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 94 strikeouts in 76 innings pitched.