Zack Wheeler will miss start after injuring finger while putting on pants
Once a Met, always a Met?
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler was scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday after a mishap putting on pants.
“You can’t make this up,” manager Joe Girardi said, via the Philadelphia Inquirer.
It’s an injury that seems typical of the rival New York Mets, where Wheeler spent the beginning of his MLB career. He hurt the nail of his right middle finger on Wednesday while getting dressed. The right-hander will not pitch until Monday at the earliest, Girardi said, since the finger is “very sore.”
On Friday, further details were offered and Wheeler’s injury sounds gruesome.
Zack Wheeler ripped the nail bed off his middle finger when it was caught on his jeans, Joe Girardi said. It sounds brutal. They're not sure if they can save the nail. He might pitch Monday, he might not. It's not good.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) September 11, 2020
Spencer Howard is expected to start on Saturday against the Miami Marlins in his place.
Wheeler, 30, signed a five-year, $118 million contract with the Phillies (21-19) in free agency. He’s 4-0 over eight starts with a 2.47 ERA in 51 innings pitched this year.
His personal injury history has been standard by pitching norms, including undergoing Tommy John surgery. But the Mets have been defined by oddities in the injury department, from valley fever to hand, foot and mouth disease. And don’t forget to cook chicken to the proper temperature.
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