CLEARWATER – All the big life stuff that came along with this spring is out of the way for Zack Wheeler now. His mega-extension is signed. His new daughter is born. Now it’s time to pitch, and to lock in for the long season ahead.

It looks like that won’t be a problem.

Wheeler wasn’t perfect, but he sure did look close to midseason form in Monday’s 2-1 loss to the Yankees at BayCare Ballpark. Wheeler struck out three and walked two across three no-hit innings, building up to 47 pitches (27 strikes) in only his second start of the spring.

Wheeler wasn’t thrilled about the two free passes. But he was pleased with the progress his new splitter is showing. His pace was good. His stuff was crisp. And he did what he does as well as anyone in the National League.

Put up zeros.

“I felt a little tight today, body-wise, not nice and loose like I normally do, but the ball was still coming out good, and everything was working,” Wheeler said. “It was one of those Spring Training games when you don’t feel the best, but the results are still there.”

That’s what scouts call a high floor.

Facing Wheeler is never an easy task. He showed the Yankees’ split-squad lineup it can be even more difficult on March 11.

“The splitter had a lot of depth,” manager Rob Thomson said.

The rest of camp for Wheeler is all about getting ready for the start of the season. At maximum, Wheeler will get two more spring starts, so he’ll likely try to build up to around 65-70 pitches in his next one.

Thomson still hasn’t announced the team’s Opening Day starter for March 28 against Atlanta at Citizens Bank Park, but it’s between Wheeler and Aaron Nola. It looks like things are lining up for Wheeler, who signed a three-year, $126 million extension last Monday.

Seventeen days remain until Opening Day. Assuming Wheeler does get two more spring starts, the earliest he can make his final one is March 21. That would line him up to pitch Opening Day on six days' rest.

If the Phillies keep Nola on a five-day schedule, he will get three more spring starts. His last would come on March 23, which would rule him out for Opening Day. But it would allow him to start the second game of the season on March 30 on six days' rest, as well.

“Every spring is week by week,” Wheeler said. “Just try to stay healthy, make it to the season and work on certain things you’re supposed to be working on.”

Around the horn
• The Phillies are giving Johan Rojas every opportunity to win the starting center-field job this spring, but it's not guaranteed. Rojas, who struggled last postseason, is 5-for-31 (.161) with seven strikeouts this spring. Meanwhile, Cristian Pache is having a nice camp. He’s 5-for-17 (.294) with two homers after contributing one of the Phillies’ five hits Monday, and he could fit on the roster even though he’s right-handed, given his plus defense.

“We saw it coming with the bat last year, too,” Thomson said. “These are good problems to have. They’ll keep battling until the end, and then we’ll figure it out.”

• Right-hander Mick Abel showed why MLB Pipeline ranks him as the Phillies’ No. 2 prospect, coming in behind Wheeler and breezing through 1 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out two, including Juan Soto on a 95 mph fastball above the zone. It was Abel’s second appearance of the spring, both scoreless. He has punched out four without a walk in those outings.

“I was really happy with him [today],” Thomson said. “He really pitched well.”

• The Phillies reassigned No. 11 prospect Griff McGarry to Minor League camp before Monday’s game, and after the game Thomson revealed that McGarry will work out of the bullpen to begin the year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The 24-year-old McGarry has predominately been a starter throughout his Minor League career, but walks have always been an issue. He lost the zone badly in three starts at Triple-A last season, walking 14 in 4 1/3 innings, and he walked three in 2 2/3 innings this spring.