Zack Wheeler DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

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.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler had his worst start of the season in Thursday's 9-3 loss to the Braves in Game 2 of a doubleheader. He allowed six runs on four hits and four walks with six strikeouts over 5 innings. This is the second time this season that he has allowed at least five runs in a start, and also the second time he has walked at least three batters. Coincidentally, the first instance for both of those feats was also against the Braves on April 8. Something about the matchup does not play in Wheeler's favor, but he remains one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. He'll carry a 2.96 ERA into his next start, which is lined up to be on the road in Toronto.