Zack Wheeler’s latest turn has put the Phillies in a spot they can’t ignore.
Philadelphia goes into Tuesday night’s second game of its three-game road series against the Seattle Mariners at 73-59, sitting 3.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves. But the bigger story is Wheeler, whose sudden drop-off has turned into a real postseason concern.
He reached the All-Star break at 10-1 with a 2.13 ERA, then stumbled to an 0-4 record with a 7.18 ERA in his first seven second-half starts. On Monday, Wheeler was tagged for eight earned runs, nine hits, five walks, and four home runs in four-plus innings.
The eight earned runs matched his career high. Even with his velocity mostly holding and Wheeler saying he feels healthy, the problem has been his command - and that has chipped away at what had been Philadelphia’s biggest October edge.
That means the Phillies can’t just sit around waiting for Wheeler to straighten himself out. Their other three established starters need to step forward now and define the rotation before October arrives.
Cristopher Sanchez has to be more than Wheeler’s running mate. If Wheeler’s command issues linger, Sanchez needs to become the clear leader of the staff and the team’s Game 1 postseason option.
The numbers already point that way. Sanchez is 16-4 with a 2.62 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and 194 strikeouts in 168 1/3 innings.
Before giving up four runs Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals, he had gone 6-0 with a 2.18 ERA over his previous seven starts.
The Phillies now need him to do more than keep producing. They need him to go deep, ease the burden on a shaky middle relief group, and pitch like the ace in the room.
Jesus Luzardo is the other arm Philadelphia needs to keep this rotation dangerous.
His line - 11-5, 3.35 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 194 strikeouts - shows a starter who can control a game without much help from defense or offense. The Phillies especially want the version of Luzardo that showed up after June 10.
Entering his start last Friday, he had put up a 1.98 ERA and an MLB-high 105 strikeouts over 12 outings. But the home run ball can still bite him, and that matters even more with Wheeler in trouble.
He allowed two homers against St. Louis, a reminder that one mistake can quickly turn into a bad inning.
Philadelphia needs the swing-and-miss version of Luzardo to stay locked in.
Then there’s Aaron Nola, who gives the Phillies both the biggest question mark and the clearest chance for a boost.
His season numbers - 5-9 with a 5.12 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP in 137 innings - have been rough. Still, his recent work suggests something may be turning.
Over his last five starts, Nola has a 2.51 ERA with 34 strikeouts. He also blanked the Miami Marlins on one run over seven innings, striking out eight and walking none.
The next step is proving that improved command can hold up against better competition. Tuesday’s start against George Kirby is an immediate test.
Sanchez and Luzardo already look like postseason starters. Nola has to turn this August stretch into something the Phillies can actually trust in October.
Wheeler still has five or six starts left to get his command back, and the velocity gives the Phillies reason to believe he can do it. But they can’t afford to build their World Series hopes around that possibility. Sanchez has to lead, Luzardo has to dominate, and Nola has to make this rebound stick.
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Phillies Just Got A Brutal Reminder About Their Rotation
Zack Wheelers latest start was a rough one by any measure, a reminder that even the Phillies most reliable arm can have a night go sideways in a hurry. Against the Mariners, Wheeler was hit for eight earned runs on nine hits over four innings, a rare blowup that pushed his ERA to 3.40 and matched a career high for runs allowed in a single game.
For a club still sitting in an NL Wild Card spot, the bigger concern is less about one bad outing than what it says about the margins in a postseason chase. The Phillies have leaned heavily on Wheeler all year, and performances like this can quickly put more pressure on a rotation that needs to keep carrying its weight down the stretch. [Read more 🡒]
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Bleacher Reports Zachary D. Rymer floated the Yankees as a possible fit if Harper ever asked out, pointing to their roster needs and the way his skill set would translate in New York. But the biggest reality check for anyone gaming out that scenario is Harpers 10-and-5 rights, which give him the ability to block any trade, so nothing would move without his approval. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Just Turned A Road Game Into A Citizens Bank Park Event
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It is the kind of move that fits a team riding momentum and trying to keep its fan base engaged through a nine-game road trip. The setup also adds a little extra texture for a club that has made Citizens Bank Park part of its identity, since the evening will include guest appearances and a shared viewing atmosphere that should make the place feel busy long before the team actually returns home. [Read more 🡒]