Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Not available in relief for Game 4
Rotowire
Wheeler is not available in relief Wednesday for Game 4 of the NLDS against the Mets, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
The Phillies are facing elimination and Wheeler would be on three days' rest. He would pitch Wednesday only in an emergency situation after throwing 111 pitches in Game 1. Wheeler would take the ball Friday if the Phillies are able to force a Game 5.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Strikes out 11 in no-decision
Rotowire
Wheeler did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Nationals, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks with 11 strikeouts over 6.1 innings.
Wheeler was his usual dominant self other than surrendering a two-run homer in the sixth inning, but the Phillies' offense didn't score a run until the eighth. The NL Cy Young candidate finished the regular season strong, yielding only 15 earned runs over 11 consecutive quality starts. He'll finish the regular season with a 2.57 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 224:52 K:BB while reaching 200 innings for the second time in his career.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: No backing from offense in loss
Rotowire
Wheeler (16-7) took the loss Sunday against the Mets, allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out eight over seven innings.
Wheeler gave up an early run in the second inning and kept the Phillies in it until Brandon Nimmo led off the sixth with a solo home run to put the Mets ahead 2-1, which wound up being the final score. Sunday was only Wheeler's second loss since the beginning of August, and he's now reeled off 10 straight quality starts. Wheeler sits third in baseball in wins, ERA (2.56) and WHIP (0.96), and he's fourth in innings pitched (193.2) and fifth in strikeouts (213). He lines up for a matchup with the Nationals in his final start of the regular season.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Dials up fourth straight win
Rotowire
Wheeler (16-6) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing one run on four hits over seven innings in a 5-1 victory over the Brewers. He struck out six without walking a batter.
The right-hander bolstered his Cy Young case with his fourth straight win and ninth straight quality start, helping the Phillies close in on an NL East title. Wheeler has a dazzling 1.71 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 66:9 K:BB through 58 innings since the beginning of August, and he leads the NL in WHIP on the season (0.95) while sitting second to Atlanta's Chris Sale in ERA (2.56, versus Sale's 2.35). Wheeler will look to keep dealing in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road this weekend against the Mets.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Fans nine in 15th win
Rotowire
Wheeler (15-6) picked up the win Wednesday, giving up two runs on four hits and three walks over six innings in a 3-2 victory over the Rays. He struck out nine.
The veteran right-hander delivered his eighth straight quality start on 103 pitches (69 strikes), a stretch in which he's gone 5-1 with a 1.76 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 60:9 K:BB through 51 innings. With the Phillies closing in on clinching the NL East title, they could be tempted to give their ace some extra rest ahead of the playoffs, but his current form doesn't suggest he needs it. Wheeler lines up to make his next start on the road early next week in Milwaukee.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Picks up easy win
Rotowire
Wheeler (14-6) allowed a run on two hits and a walk over six innings Friday, striking out seven and earning a win over the Marlins.
The Phillies gave Wheeler a 3-0 lead before he took the mound and went up 14-1 by the time he left the game. He fired 56 of 84 pitches for strikes, including 15 whiffs, and gave up his lone run in the fourth inning on an Otto Lopez double. Wheeler is 4-1 with a stellar 1.60 ERA and 51:6 K:BB through seven starts since the beginning of August. His season ERA is down to 2.59 alongside a 190:46 K:BB over 173.2 frames. Wheeler is lined up for a home matchup against the Rays next week.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Earns 100th career win
Rotowire
Wheeler (13-6) allowed four hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over seven shutout innings to earn the win over Atlanta on Saturday.
Wheeler twirled a gem for his 100th career win, and he rattled off his sixth straight quality start in the process. He finally had a month where he avoided a poor start -- over six outings in August, Wheeler posted a 1.62 ERA and 44:5 K:BB over 39 innings. Through 27 starts this year, Wheeler has a 2.63 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 183:45 K:BB over 167.2 innings, numbers that should have him firmly in the NL Cy Young discussion. He's projected for a favorable start at Miami his next time out.
Wheeler came away with a no-decision in Monday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Astros, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six.
The veteran righty fired 64 of 97 pitches for strikes in his NL-leading 20th quality start of the season, tying him with Seattle's Logan Gilbert for the major-league lead. Wheeler has produced a quality start in all five of his trips to the mound in August, posting a 1.97 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 37:5 K:BB through 32 innings on the month. He'll look to keep bolstering his Cy Young credentials in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against Atlanta.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Falls to Atlanta
Rotowire
Wheeler (12-6) took the loss Tuesday against Atlanta, allowing two runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out eight.
Wheeler pitched well Tuesday, allowing just one run through five innings before Marcell Ozuna put Atlanta ahead with a solo home run in the sixth, which proved to be enough to stick Wheeler with the loss. The 34-year-old right-hander hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his last four starts (26 innings). Wheeler's ERA now sits at 2.73 this season with a 0.98 WHIP and 170:43 K:BB across 154.2 innings.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Fans six in 12th win
Rotowire
Wheeler (12-5) picked up the win over the Nationals on Thursday, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits over six innings while striking out six.
Wheeler surrendered just one hit over the first four innings before coughing a solo homer to Keibert Ruiz with one out in the fifth. He would then struggle a bit in the sixth inning as well, allowing the first two batters to reach -- the second on a hit-by-pitch -- before an unearned run would come home for Washington. The right-hander was able to hang on for his 12th win of the campaign while also logging his third consecutive quality start. Wheeler has allowed two or fewer runs in all three of his outings to open the month of August, going 2-0 over that stretch while posting a 23:3 K:BB.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Allows two runs in no-decision
Rotowire
Wheeler did not factor into the decision in Friday's 3-2 loss to Arizona, yielding two runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out eight.
Out of the seven hits the veteran right-hander allowed, only one went for extra bases -- a 393-foot solo homer by Joc Pederson in the third inning. With this 100-pitch outing, Wheeler collected his 17th quality start of the season and posted his sixth consecutive start with six or more punchouts. Over those six appearances, he has pitched to a 2.92 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 44:12 K:BB across 37 innings, despite coughing up seven runs July 29 against the Yankees. The 34-year-old lines up to make his next start against the Nationals at home next week.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Goes eight scoreless
Rotowire
Wheeler (11-5) got the win Sunday against the Mariners, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out nine over eight scoreless innings.
Wheeler was engaged in a pitcher's duel with Logan Gilbert for the first six innings before the Phillies eventually opened up the game with five runs in the eighth. Sunday was Wheeler's sixth scoreless outing of the year, as he only allowed a first inning double by Cal Raleigh and a base hit from Victor Robles in the third. He went on to finish the day by retiring the final 15 hitters he faced. Wheeler managed to not issue multiple walks for the first time since June 22 and his nine strikeouts were his most since he had nine against the Giants on May 28. The 34-year-old further strengthened his NL Cy Young case and now owns a 2.77 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 148:41 K:BB in 136.2 innings. He lines up to face the Diamondbacks on the road in his next start.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Stumbles against Yankees
Rotowire
Wheeler (10-5) took the loss against the Yankees on Monday, allowing seven runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six batters over five innings.
Wheeler fell behind early, giving up three runs on a trio of solo homers over the first two frames. He got through the following two innings without additional damage but then collapsed in the fifth, surrendering four runs on four hits, including a double and a triple. The seven runs were the second-most Wheeler has given up this season, as were the three long balls. He took his first loss since June 16 versus Baltimore, which was also the game in which he gave up season highs with eight runs and four homers.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Throws seven scoreless
Rotowire
Wheeler didn't factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts across seven scoreless innings against Minnesota.
Wheeler was removed from his July 9 start with back spasms and missed a turn in the rotation due to the issue. He took the mound Tuesday for the first time since and didn't skip a beat. Wheeler struck out seven batters for a third consecutive start and garnered his 15th quality start of the year. The 34-year-old has a 2.55 ERA and 0.98 WHIP to pair with a 133:37 K:BB across 123.3 innings this season. He lines up to face the Yankees early next week.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: MRI negative, iffy for Sunday
Rotowire
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Wednesday that Wheeler (back) isn't certain to make his next start Sunday against the Athletics, though an MRI on the right-hander's back revealed no structural damage, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. "We're going to be very cautious with him... We'll know [Thursday]," Thomson said, when asked about Wheeler's status for Sunday.
Wheeler was pulled after five innings in his start during Tuesday's 10-1 win over the Dodgers due to left lower-back tightness. Though Thomson admitted that Wheeler is still feeling sore, the 34-year-old looks to have avoided a significant injury. Even so, with the All-Star break looming, the Phillies could have Wheeler skip his next turn so that he can benefit from some extended time to heal up from the back issue. The team should provide more clarity on its plans for Wheeler after reassessing his condition Thursday.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Removed with back tightness
Rotowire
Wheeler was removed from his start Tuesday against the Dodgers due to left lower-back tightness, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Wheeler was able to get through five innings in 76 pitches before leaving Tuesday's contest, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out seven batters. He said after the game that he's not too concerned about his back but noted the tightness is something he's dealt with recently, so the Phillies will certainly keep a close eye on it leading up to the righty's next start -- tentatively scheduled for Sunday.
Wheeler allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings in a no-decision versus the Cubs on Wednesday.
Wheeler has posted quality starts in eight of his last nine outings, the lone exception being an eight-run disaster at Baltimore on June 16. The right-hander left Wednesday's game with a lead, but Matt Strahm couldn't maintain it, though the Phillies went on to win, 5-3, anyway. Wheeler is now at a 2.74 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 119:33 K:BB through 111.2 innings over 18 starts this season. He's projected for a tough home start versus the Dodgers in his next outing.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Sharp in Saturday's win
Rotowire
Wheeler (9-4) picked up the win in Saturday's 12-1 rout of the Diamondbacks, allowing one run on two hits over seven innings. He struck out eight without walking a batter.
The right-hander was dominant, generating 31 called or swinging strikes among his 97 pitches as he racked up his sixth quality start in his last seven trips to the mound. Wheeler is 5-1 over that stretch with a 2.96 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 42:13 K:BB through 45.2 innings, and he'll look to stay locked in for his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Marlins.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Lit up Sunday
Rotowire
Wheeler (8-4) suffered the loss Sunday, allowing eight runs on nine hits and two walks over 4.1 innings against the Orioles. He struck out four.
It was a long day for Wheeler, who allowed four homers after having previously allowed only six long balls over his first 14 starts this season. The eight earned runs allowed matched a career high for Wheeler, who hadn't given up that many in a start since 2018. Sunday's poor effort raised his ERA from 2.16 to 2.84. Wheeler had won his previous eight decisions prior to Sunday's loss, which dropped him to 8-4 on the season. He'll look to get back on track during his next start, currently slated to take place next weekend when the Diamondbacks come to Philly for a rematch of last season's NLCS.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Cruises to eighth win
Rotowire
Wheeler (8-3) picked up the win in Tuesday's 4-1 victory over the Red Sox, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out four.
Two of the hits came on the first two batters he faced as Boston pushed across a run in the bottom of the first inning, but Wheeler shut the opposition down the rest of the way. The right-hander exited after 88 pitches (59 strikes) with his fifth straight quality start and 11th of the season, putting him in a tie for the major-league lead with four other pitchers. Wheeler will take a 2.16 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 95:27 K:BB through 87.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come on the road this weekend in Baltimore.
