Phillies Injury Report: Updates to Wheeler, Dominguez, and Eflin

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Philadelphia Phillies Zack Wheeler
TAMPA, FL – MARCH 07: Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) delivers a pitch during the MLB Spring Training game between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees on March 7, 2021 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire)

The Phillies finally got some positive injury news Friday just a couple of hours before their first game against the Washington Nationals.

Thanks to reporting by Alex Coffey, we have learned the status of several pitchers that are currently on the Injured List.

Zack Wheeler

Phillies ace is close to returning

The first update and the biggest was new information on Zack Wheeler. The Phils’ ace has been down the past couple of weeks in an effort to get him healthy for the end of the season.

Philadelphia as a whole have struggled without Wheeler but his fill-in Bailey Falter has done a solid job of replacing Zack’s spot in the rotation. It appears that the Phillies ace is heading in the right direction and should hopefully see the mound soon.

Seranthony Dominguez

Phillies are getting their close back soon

The next update to come out of Citizens Bank Park this afternoon was an update on Seranthony Dominguez. Their closer is most likely the closest player to returning, as he completed a rehab assignment in Triple-A for the Iron Pigs on Thursday night.

Interim manager Rob Thomson reported that Dominguez was touching high 90s and even broke 100 in his appearance. There is anticipation that he will be back for game two of the Nationals series.

Zach Eflin

Phillies rotation could be complete for the postseason push

The Phillies starter was the final player to be addressed in the injury update. Zach Eflin has missed most of the season due to knee problems that prevented him from pitching in much of 2021.

Zach has been out since just before the All-Star break and is part of the reason the Phillies traded for Noah Syndergaard. Eflin will be making a rehab start for the Iron Pigs on Friday night and is expected to pitch out of the bullpen once he returns to Philadelphia.

Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire