The MLB playoff picture is starting to take shape here in the middle of August, though there is always the potential for a major shakeup if one of the teams on the fringe of contention gets hot.

Saturday night, news dropped that the Phillies were placing ace righty Zack Wheeler on the injured list due to a blood clot in his shoulder area. More on that in a second. Sunday, veteran right-hander Aaron Nola returned from a lengthy stint on the injured list.

Phillies ace Zack Wheeler didn’t suffer an injury to his elbow, shoulder or hamstring. He was diagnosed with a blood clot near his right shoulder. As Kyle Schwarber put it, “That’s scary stuff.” When he returns is anyone’s guess at this point with tests planned for today.

Phillies’ Rob Thomson Announces Alec Bohm Update After 23 Missed Games originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Phillies lead the New York Mets atop the NL East by five games, and that's with a major piece missing. Third baseman Alec Bohm (ribs) hasn't played since July 18, and he's played just 92 out of 121 contests this season.

The Phillies close out their series against the Nationals on Sunday, with the first pitch scheduled for 11:35 a.m. at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Here's how you can tune in.

The Birds won it all after the MVP favorite went down. Wheeler is the best, but the team already has won games despite absences this season.

Nola and Bohm’s returns were expected. Nola’s start Sunday against the Nationals is his first since May 14. Bohm’s in the Phils’ lineup and hitting cleanup in his first MLB game since July 18. Both Nola and Bohm were sidelined by rib injuries and recently wrapped up rehab assignments with Lehigh Valley.

The Philadelphia Phillies will be without star pitcher Zack Wheeler indefinitely, but the righty's health comes first.

Sure, the Phillies rallied for an 11-9 victory, scoring five runs against the last-place Nationals’ putrid bullpen and surviving a three-run rally in the ninth that brought the tying run to the plate and forced manager Rob Thomson to use closer Jhoan Duran.

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola’s first start after returning from the injured list didn’t last long.

The Phillies traded for reliever Jhoan Duran this season. More information is coming out about how close they were to losing him.