Baseball has a way of reminding teams how fragile a winning campaign can be. Just ask the 2021 Dodgers, whose title defense unraveled after injuries sidelined Clayton Kershaw and Dustin May, leaving them short-handed when October came calling. Their eventual loss to the Braves in the NLCS stands as one of the most recent cautionary tales about how the absence of an ace can derail even the strongest contenders. And now, the Phillies may be staring down a similar fate.

Sitting atop the NL East with a 70–53 record, Philadelphia should be preparing for a playoff push. But instead, they’re bracing for the worst. Yes, with one of their elite arms facing an untimely injury scare, the timing couldn’t be more precarious. The Mets are only five wins back, the division is tightening, and in Philadelphia, the buzz of a promising season has been replaced by a rising chorus of panic. So, what’s ahead hereon?

“Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler was placed on the 15-day injured list with a blood clot near his right shoulder. The timetable for his return is unclear,” MLB insider Jeff Passan shared.

Well, Phillies ace Zack Wheeler has landed on the 15-day injured list after doctors found a blood clot near his shoulder. For the unversed, he’d already had a start pushed back earlier this month when he felt some soreness after pitching against the Tigers on August 2. While he still managed to gut out his next two outings—giving up just four earned runs total and helping the Phillies win both—it was the first time that he didn’t make it past the fifth inning in back-to-back starts.

The latest update from the Phillies says Wheeler will undergo more tests once they’re back home, after wrapping up their 10-game road trip with Sunday’s matchup against the Nationals. So now, his absence is a big setback for the rotation, especially considering how dominant he’s been this year. A 10-5 record across 24 starts with a sparkling 2.71 ERA and a WHIP just under 1.0.

Enough for the fans to panic amid the diminishing probability of what Bryce Harper hoped for!

If you remember, Harper has already made it clear since the day he signed in Philadelphia that his ultimate dream is to bring a World Series title to the Phillies. What’s more is that Harper is delivering as promised. But he’s said time and again that nothing would mean more than celebrating a championship on Broad Street with his teammates and the Philly faithful.

But now that Wheeler is sidelined, fans are wondering if that’s possible anymore!

Phillies fans have pressed the panic button

What could be the worst fear for a fan of seeing the team’s cornerstone getting sidelined after having a strong run? Nothing, and that’s what the fans are sharing about Wheeler’s injury.

“Every fan’s worst fear about their ace,” one fan shared. Well, losing Wheeler is every Phillies fan’s nightmare because he’s the anchor of the rotation and the guy they trust most in big games. The No. 2 in the 2024 NL Cy Young race is too good for the Phillies to sideline. Moreover, Wheeler leads the majors with 195 strikeouts this season. And so, without him, the pitching staff suddenly looks a lot thinner, the bullpen gets more pressure, and the margin for error shrinks. So, for fans, it’s the fear of watching their championship window get a little shakier without their most reliable arm on the mound.

Well, when it comes to injuries, the Phillies are still behind some of the worst-case scenarios. But their elite players are only sidelined with injuries. For instance, before Wheeler, the Phillies got Jhoan Duran sidelined, and Alec Bohm is still recovering. “God hates the Phillies,” one fan thinks it’s god’s wrath that the Phillies are losing their elite hands one by one. But we think the Phillies are still in a better situation. At least not like the Yankees or Dodgers with a long list of injuries.

“Figured something’s been up. He’s been very shaky lately,” one user figured out that Wheeler was not looking like himself since the last few games. For instance, till July 6, Wheeler was untouchable. He struck out 12 and allowed just one hit, carrying a 2.17 ERA through 18 starts and routinely working deep into games, reaching the seventh inning in eight of them. But since then, things haven’t looked the same. Over his last six outings, he’s failed to get through six innings three times and posted a 4.55 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP. So yes, Wheeler was surely looking uncomfortable.

The difference between a cornerstone and a normal player is that the former’s influence goes beyond his own team. The same with Wheeler. One fan said, “Braves fan, but I hope he recovers fast.” Well, losing Wheeler will not only be costly for the Phillies but for the entire MLB community. Those four-seam fastballs and sinkers are watch-worthy and could have been a good addition to watch in the postseason. But again, let’s see if he can come back before that.

Another fan wrote, “At least the Phillies got Areola Nola coming back.” So, not everything went for a toss for the Phillies. For instance, they are bracing up for the return of Aaron Nola. Reportedly, he is set to make his first big-league start since May 14 on Sunday. Before the injuries, Nola struggled out of the gate in 2025, carrying a 6.16 ERA through his first nine starts. But his rehab stint with Triple-A Lehigh Valley was much more encouraging. He gave up just three runs in 12.1 innings across three starts, capping it off with 11 strikeouts in his final outing. So maybe the Phillies could use him to make up for the loss of Wheeler.

Nevertheless, there’s no doubt that the Phillies would face a costly challenge with Wheeler’s injury. But it’s all now about how they sail the team through treacherous waters and achieve the October dream.