Zack Wheeler didn’t waste any time making his point after another overpowering start for the Phillies.
Fresh off a seven-inning outing against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night in which he struck out 14 batters, Wheeler took aim at MLB for leaving him off the 2026 All-Star roster. The right-hander made it clear he thinks the omission is flat-out wrong.
"I felt like that was kind of like a reminder, for whoever needs to be reminded," Wheeler said. "It pisses me off, it's kinda BS."
Wheeler’s case got louder with every pitch he threw against Cincinnati. The 14 strikeouts were a career high, and the performance only reinforced the argument that he belongs among the game’s All-Stars this season.
He said he wouldn’t be speaking so bluntly if he didn’t believe he had earned the honor.
"You know, maybe if I wasn't necessarily right in there, I wouldn't be saying this, but I feel like I've earned it..."
The numbers back him up. Wheeler is sitting on a 2.28 ERA with a 9-1 record and 4.3 bWAR in 14 starts. He has piled up 98 strikeouts in 87 innings and has been one of baseball’s best pitchers since returning in late April from Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery.
Still, the All-Star nod won’t come. Because Wheeler is scheduled to pitch on Sunday, July 12, he is ineligible to appear in the All-Star Game under MLB’s rulebook. Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers is in the same situation, though he has already been replaced on the roster and at least gets the All-Star recognition.
Wheeler won’t get that. And he doesn’t think the rule makes sense.
"You figured they'd have a clue about it by now, how many All-Star Games they've had," Wheeler said. "I think it's kind of a BS rule that just because I pitch on a certain day, I get punished for it, I guess."
For Wheeler, the issue goes beyond one roster decision. He sees All-Star selections as part of a player’s résumé, something that can matter for contracts, Hall of Fame consideration, and legacy. From his perspective, the game’s best pitchers shouldn’t be penalized because of the day they’re scheduled to work.
That’s the frustration hanging over another dominant Wheeler start: the Phillies ace did everything he could on the mound, and MLB still left him on the outside looking in.
In Other News...
Why Would The Mets Even Consider This NL East Trade Rumor
The National League East has been tight enough that every deadline rumor gets extra oxygen, and Clay Holmes has become one of the more interesting names to watch. Before his leg injury, he was pitching well for the Mets, and there is real precedent for clubs dealing injured arms in July if the market and the medicals line up. For the Phillies, any chance to weaken a division rival while adding a proven arm is the kind of move that can shape the stretch run.
Holmes also carries a layer of future uncertainty that makes the speculation more than just idle chatter. He has a player option after the season that he is expected to decline, which only adds to the sense that the Mets may have to decide whether to keep him for a push or cash in now. If they do listen, Philadelphia would be paying close attention, because a trade like that would say plenty about how both teams see the race unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies May Already Be Eyeing A Managerial Shakeup After This Run
Don Mattinglys arrival gave the Phillies stability in the middle of a 2026 season that had already gone sideways enough to cost Rob Thomson his job, and the response on the field has been strong enough to keep the club in the hunt. For a team built to win now, that kind of turnaround matters, but it also has a way of sharpening the front offices long-term thinking once the dust settles.
Alex Coras availability has only added to the intrigue, especially with the Mets also in the market after parting with Carlos Mendoza. Philadelphia is being viewed as the team most likely to land him, which would make the next managerial decision one of the most consequential of the offseason, even if the current run keeps buying everyone a little more time. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Make Another Unsettling Bullpen Change Before Reds Series
The Phillies kept tinkering with the bullpen mix before opening a series against the Reds, optioning left-hander Kyle Backhus to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and bringing back right-hander Max Lazar. It is the kind of move that says as much about the moment as it does about either pitcher, with Philadelphia still trying to find the right late-inning fit while sorting through a relief group that has been in flux.
Backhus had been hit hard in recent outings, and the club is clearly looking for steadier answers as it waits for veteran Brad Keller to come off the injured list. Lazar gives the Phillies a familiar arm with some Triple-A success behind him and a few big-league looks already on his rsum this season, but this bullpen picture still feels very much in motion as the trade deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]