Phillies Heat Up Early, Wheeler Nears Rotation Return

0:00On March 30th, Philly's heating up early this season, with temps hitting 68 degrees from Monday's first pitch against the Nationals and, climbing to 80 by Wednesday. That warm weather, paired with Washington's shaky pitching, gives the Philly's a prime shot to spark their bats and shake off a slow offensive start. After those three home games, the Philly's pack for the West Coast, facing 3 in Denver and 3 in San Francisco. Those spots have tripped the mud before. Course fields, thin air pumps up hits, while the Giants park favors pitchers with his big foul territory and tricky wins. And reset, the early schedule stacks the deck with National League West foes, including all six against the Giants, three with the Rockies, and three versus the Diamondbacks. They wrap a long nine game homestand from April 9th to 19th against Arizona, the Cubs and Braves, knocking out full series against the Giants, and Cubs by month's end. Zach Wheeler's closing in on a rotation return, with his second rehab star Friday in Durham

1:04and a third next week in reading. He threw just 38 pitches over three innings last time, so he might skip more tuneups and jump straight to the majors around 75 to 80 pitches, shifting to a six-man rotation could feature Wheeler alongside Sanchez, Nola, Lazardo, Walker, and Rookie Painter. With those off days on three, straight Thursdays might leave starters resty without skipping someone soon. That's the story for today, MLB News Today, Driven by AI.