Zack Wheeler makes solid start for Lehigh Valley on rehab assigment

Phillies starter Zack Wheeler was solid in the third start of his minor-league rehab assignment on Wednesday night, allowing just one run in 4 1/3 innings for Triple-A Lehigh Valley after a rough outing last week.

Wheeler struck out six batters and gave up three hits and a walk in a 6-3 IronPigs loss to Rochester at Coca-Cola Park. He surrendered his lone run on an RBI bloop single by Andrés Chaparro in the top of the fourth.

The veteran ace threw 61 total pitches (44 for strikes). He averaged 92.9 mph on 19 four-seam fastballs, maxing out at 94.3 mph. His velocity through three rehab starts has continued to stick around that 93 mph range.

Before his season was shut down due to a blood clot and surgery to correct the thoracic outlet syndrome that caused it, Wheeler averaged 96.1 mph on his four-seam fastball last year. He had a 2.71 ERA in 24 starts prior to being sidelined.

It will remain to be seen if Wheeler can up his velocity as he gears up for a return to the Phillies’ rotation, which will come before the end of the month, barring any setbacks. Wheeler took the mound Wednesday on four days’ rest. That won’t be possible for his next rehab outing, as Monday is an off day for minor-league teams. But Wheeler seems likely to make his next start some time soon after that.

Lehigh Valley will be on the road in St. Paul, Minn., for its next series. Wheeler has spent his entire rehab stint so far with the IronPigs and could continue to do so, but Double-A Reading will only be in Somerset, N.J., next week if the Phillies want Wheeler to stay closer to the Philadelphia area.

The 35-year-old has allowed six earned runs in 10 1/3 innings for Lehigh Valley. He can only spend a maximum of 30 days on a rehab assignment as long as he remains healthy, so he’ll have to be added to Philadelphia’s roster by April 27, which is an off day for the Phillies, at the latest.