The Philadelphia Phillies today faced the Texas Rangers in the middle game of their three-game series. The Phillies have Aaron Nola on the mound, making his first start of the season. Ahead of the game, they optioned two pitchers and a position player to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The two pitchers were right-handed pitcher Orion Kerkering and Zack Wheeler, both sent on a rehab assignment. The position player was catcher Garrett Stubbs, who was sent outright to Lehigh Valley.
Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster
Orion Kerkering
Kerkering made one appearance this spring, going one inning, allowing a run on two hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out one. He suffered a grade one hamstring strain during a bullpen session. Last season, in 69 appearances, he went 8-4 with a 3.30 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and 65 strikeouts in 60 innings.
Zack Wheeler
Doctors found a blood clot in Wheeler’s right shoulder area, ending his 2025 campaign early. He had a thoracic outlet decompression surgery. In 24 starts, he went 10-5 with a 2.71 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP, and 195 strikeouts in 149.2 innings.
Garrett Stubbs
Stubbs, in 11 games this spring, hit .208 with a .700 OPS. He had a double, a triple, three RBI, five runs scored, and two stolen bases. In five games for the Phillies last season, he went 0-1 with two runs scored. He also appeared in 71 games for Lehigh Valley, hitting .265 with a .753 OPS. He had 12 doubles, eight home runs, 50 RBI, 45 runs scored, and five stolen bases.
