Philadelphia Phillies welcome back ace pitcher Wheeler amid seven-game losing streak, set to return Sunday against Braves.

The Phillies have recently endured a seven-game losing streak, yet their starting rotation has finally received encouraging updates. Manager Rob Thomson stated that ace pitcher Zack Wheeler will have his season debut on Sunday (Beijing time), against the Atlanta Braves, who currently lead the National League East. This will be the Phillies' ace pitcher's first appearance in the Major League since August of last year.

Wheeler pitched in 24 games last season, achieving a record of 10 wins and 5 losses, with an ERA of 2.71, throwing 149.2 innings and striking out 195 batters. However, he suffered a right upper limb thrombosis and venous thoracic outlet syndrome late in the season, underwent surgery, and ended the season prematurely, missing the playoffs and also failing to start this year's season.

Wheeler has already made five appearances in rehabilitation games, and Manager Thomson is quite optimistic about his condition. Thomson said, "He is now in a state as if he has completed spring training; his velocity has recovered, and his control is fine." Although Thomson expects to set a pitch limit of 90 balls for Wheeler, the return of the ace pitcher will undoubtedly bring many positive impacts to the Phillies.

The Phillies currently have a record of 8 wins and 15 losses, ranking fourth in the National League East, with the underperforming starting rotation being a key reason. Currently, only Cristopher Sánchez has maintained his excellent performance from last season, while Aaron Nola and Taijuan Walker have been unable to contribute consistently, and left-handed pitcher Jesús Luzardo's ERA is also as high as 6.91.