The Philadelphia Phillies received a severe blow to their postseason aspirations when the team announced Aug. 23 that ace pitcher Zack Wheeler will miss the remainder of the season after being diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome.

Wheeler had a successful right upper extremity blood clot removal on Aug. 18, and during the evaluation and second opinions, it was recommended that he undergo surgery, which will take place at a later date.

According to the Mayo Clinic, venous thoracic outlet syndrome is a group of conditions in which there's pressure on blood vessels or nerves in the area between the neck and shoulder, which can cause numbness in the fingers.

The team said that the recovery from the injury could take six to eight months.

Wheeler, a three-time All-Star and a Cy Y

See Full Page