Phillies' Zack Wheeler returns to rotation to face hot Braves

Philadelphia ace Zack Wheeler will make his first start since last August when the Phillies bid to snap a 10-game losing streak on Saturday night against the host Atlanta Braves.

The Braves have won nine of their last 10 games and beat the Phillies 5-3 on Friday to open the three-game set between the teams with the best and worst record, respectively, in the majors.

The losing streak is the longest for Philadelphia since it dropped 11 in a row in 1999.

Wheeler will oppose Atlanta's Bryce Elder (3-1, 1.50 ERA) in a battle of right-handers.

"Having Zack Wheeler on your 26-man roster makes you a better roster no matter what," Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said. "Because when he's healthy and pitching, he's one of the best, if not the best, pitcher in the National League."

Wheeler had a rib removed during vascular thoracic outlet decompression surgery in September after it was discovered he had a blood clot in his right shoulder.

Wheeler made five rehab starts this spring before being activated, posting a 5.85 ERA. He struck out 23 and walked only five in 20 innings. He is expected to be on a pitch count when he makes his season debut.

"I think he's basically at the end of spring training," Thomson said. "The fastball velocity has gone up. It's not where it's going to be, I don't believe. The command has been some days good, some days not as good. But I'm expecting on a normal day, weather wise, that he's going to have his command."

Wheeler has been one of the best pitchers in the National League and finished second to Atlanta's Chris Sale for the 2024 NL Cy Young Award after going 16-7 with a 2.57 ERA. He has double-digit wins in each of the last seven full seasons.

Wheeler has fared well against the Braves, going 13-9 with a 3.29 ERA in 32 career starts.

Elder will make his sixth start of the season.

In his last outing, against Washington on Monday, he worked 6 2/3 innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits and two walks while striking out six in a 9-4 victory. Elder is 0-1 with a 6.41 ERA in four career starts against Philadelphia.

The Braves will continue to be cautious with center fielder Michael Harris II. He was a late scratch on Friday with a tight left quad but entered the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning and produced a game-winning, two-run double.

Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said there's no guarantee that Harris will be in the lineup on Saturday. Harris could be the DH, with Mauricio Dubon going to center field.

"We'll put him through the test again (Saturday)," Weiss said. "We're going to be cautious here. The soft-tissue stuff can be tricky, you know, so we want to use good judgment. We've got an off day coming up (Monday), but I'm hoping he can play (Saturday) for sure."

Over his last seven games, Harris is hitting .550 with 10 RBIs.

--Field Level Media