Zack Wheeler hurt his middle finger nail pulling his pants up

Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi initially said in his postgame press conference that he wasn’t sure whether Aaron Nola would pitch in Game 1 or Game 2 of Friday’s doubleheader with the Miami Marlins.

A couple minutes after his media session ended, he returned and said that he had some news. Nola will pitch Game 1 of the doubleheader, and the Phillies will bullpen Game 2. Spencer Howard is slated to pitch Saturday, while Vince Velasquez and Zach Eflin will pitch in Sunday’s doubleheader.

The notable absent piece this weekend? Zack Wheeler. Girardi said he hopes that the team hopes Wheeler will be able to pitch in the series finale on Monday, but that he has a “very sore” middle finger nail on his pitching hand, one that he injured pulling his pants up on Wednesday.

“You can’t make this up,” Girardi said, with clear frustration in his voice.

Wheeler, who last pitched on Monday, has been one of the better pitchers in the National League in his first season with the Phillies. In eight starts this season, Wheeler is 4-0 with a 2.47 ERA, 3.10 FIP and 1.5 fWAR. Wheeler had been scheduled to pitch Saturday, with the Phillies planning to do a bullpen game in one of the two doubleheader games Sunday, plans that have now been scrapped.

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