MIAMI -- Zack Wheeler is a man of few words so you often have to read his body language and demeanor to get a sense for how things are going with him.
Grumpy Zack. Not good.
Smiling Zack. Good.
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SIGN UP HERE Wheeler smiled easily and joked with reporters after throwing a 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday afternoon.
Encouraged?
"Yeah," he said.
Manager Rob Thomson watched the bullpen session and was a little more expansive.
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"It went well," Thomson said. "He threw all his pitches. I don't know any velocities or anything but it looked like it was coming out of his hand good. He worked from the stretch some. The location was good."
Best of all: Wheeler felt no discomfort. The right-hander has been on the injured list for nearly three weeks after a bout of inflammation in his right forearm/elbow. He missed his fourth turn in the rotation on Tuesday night.
Asked if he was out of the woods, Wheeler responded, "Time will tell."
Wheeler will put his arm through a more significant test Friday in Atlanta. He will throw a more rigorous bullpen session with a pause in the middle to simulate an inning break or he could face hitters in a live batting practice/simulated game situation.
If Wheeler continues to make progress, he could be back in the rotation as soon as Tuesday night when the Phillies host Toronto at Citizens Bank Park. If Wheeler can get back by Tuesday or Wednesday, he would be able to pitch three times before the regular season ends and be ready to start Game 1 of the postseason if asked.
What would a healthy Wheeler mean to the Phillies' chances of locking down a playoff spot and potentially making some noise in the postseason?
"It's huge," Thomson said. "When he's right, he's one of the best pitchers in baseball. He gives the entire club confidence when he takes the mound."
"Put it this way: Every time Zack takes the mound, I expect us to win."
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