Zack Wheeler leaves Dodgers game with lower back strain – NBC Sports Philadelphia

Phillies starter Zack Wheeler, who was working a two-hit, two-out, no-one-on-base shutout in the fifth inning against the Dodgers on Tuesday night, did not come in to start the sixth.

The team announced he left the game due to lower left back pain.

The first sign of trouble came when Dodgers third baseman Cavan Biggio launched a solo home run to right-center field. It was followed by walks to designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and catcher Will Smith — his only two walks of the game — before he got first baseman Freddie Freeman to pop out, ending the inning.

Obviously, losing Wheeler for any length of time would be a big loss, especially for a team that already has veterans Taijuan Walker and Spencer Turnbull on injured reserve.

The Phillies have been fortunate this year as injuries to first baseman Bryce Harper, designated hitter Kyler Schwarber, outfielder Brandon Marsh, third baseman Alec Bohm and Suarez have proven to be less serious than expected.

Only time will tell if they dodged another bullet.

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