Phillies pitcher Wheeler out with torn nail
Undefeated Philadelphia Phillies righthander Zack Wheeler ripped a fingernail putting on his pants, delaying his next start for two days and perhaps longer.
Wheeler might lose the nail on the middle finger of his right hand.
“Just one of those stupid things,” he said Friday. “I tripped a little bit, I lost my balance, and my jeans yanked out of my hand.”
Wheeler, 4-0 with a 2.47 ERA in eight starts, had been scheduled to pitch today in Miami. That start has been pushed back to Monday, which is probably wishful thinking, manager Joe Girardi said.
For now, Wheeler’s finger is swollen, sore and taped.
“We don’t think it’s a DL thing, but it depends on what happens to the nail,” Girardi said.
YANKEES’ STARS COULD RETURN SOON >> Ailing sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton might be back in the New York Yankees’ lineup as soon as next weekend.
Manager Aaron Boone said Friday that both players are at the tail-end of their recoveries and could be sent to the club’s alternate site in Scranton, Pennsylvania, this weekend to get at-bats. That would put them on track to return for the final 10 or so games in this pandemic-shortened 60-game regular season.
“I would say they’re both close,” Boone said. “They’re both feeling well. They’re both doing well. Hopefully, we’re in the final days before they start getting some atbats.”
Judge is recovering from his second stint on the injured list this season with a strained right calf and last played Aug. 26. Stanton has been out since Aug. 8 with a left hamstring strain.
Left-hander James Paxton had a setback this week in his recovery from a strained left flexor tendon, and it’s uncertain whether he will pitch again this season.
Boone said there’s “still a chance on some level” that Paxton can contribute. He also said it’s possible the 31-year-old could return as a reliever. Paxton can become a free agent after the season.
BRAVES’ ACUNA DAY TO DAY >> Atlanta Braves center fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. left Friday’s game at Washington after he fouled a ball off his left foot in the fourth inning.
X-rays revealed no fracture and Acuña is considered day to day, the team announced.
The 21-year-old slugger went down on one knee after he fouled off the pitch from Nationals starter Erick Fedde. Acuña tried to walk off the injury before he was helped off the field by manager Brian Snitker and a trainer. He did not put weight on his left leg as he left the field.