PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies are flexing their pitching muscles, and it's a sight to behold. When you have two National League Cy Young contenders taking the mound on consecutive days, you're setting yourself up for something special.
Take this recent back-to-back showcase: Cristopher Sánchez dazzled with 12 strikeouts and just a single walk over seven innings. Not to be outdone, Zack Wheeler followed suit with an electrifying performance, fanning 13 Marlins without giving up a free pass in a solid 7-2 victory for the Phillies. It's been a while since Phillies fans have seen something like this; you’d have to go back to 2011 with Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee putting on a similar show with their strikeout prowess.
Wheeler was just one shy of his personal record of 14 strikeouts, last achieved in May 2021. Markedly, this outing was the first where he punched out 13 without a walk. His knack for generating swing-and-misses is unmatched, as he's the only pitcher in baseball this year to do so in multiple starts.
The magic? Wheeler attributes it to a mechanical tweak that’s allowed him to perfect his landing leg position.
Before this adjustment, he was dealing with the aftermath of nine earned runs in his last two games, sending his ERA past the four-run mark for the first time since mid-2023. In this game, 42% of his pitches were four-seam fastballs—the heart of his dominance with 11 of his 20 swings-and-misses coming from that heater.
“Fastball was playing a little different,” Wheeler reflected, highlighting the precision and effectiveness that fans dream of seeing. “It was spinning nice and true. The way you want it to be.”
If you flashback to this time last year, the Phillies were kicking off a spectacular 29-6 run that helped them clinch their first National League East title in over a decade. During that streak, their starters went for seven innings on 17 occasions in a 35-game span—a feat unmatched by several postseason-bound teams over an entire season.
While many clubs are still searching for quality starters, the Phillies have solidified their rotation’s strength. Wheeler comes with a hefty three-year contract as the third-highest on the MLB pay scale, pulling in $42 million annually.
Sánchez, locked in through 2030, offers incredible value. Then there's Aaron Nola and Taijuan Walker, the back-end strength combining for $244 million in contracts.
Plus, they've got Jesús Luzardo onboard after trading away a senior prospect, and they're stoked about the summer debut of Andrew Painter, a shining prospect in the pitching world.
Despite a couple of rough patches—like Nola’s 6.55 ERA and Ranger Suárez’s absence—the rotation is proving its mettle. Luzardo has shown flashes of brilliance with a 2.31 ERA, ready to tackle his old team this Easter Sunday, and Walker’s contributed unexpectedly sturdy performances.
“Starting pitching wins championships,” Bryce Harper said, summing up the essence of their strategy. “Seeing Sánchez dominate last game with 12 punchies, owning that strike zone—it was special. Our rotation is doing a heck of a job, and it's exhilarating to watch.”
With Walker teeing up for Saturday, the Phillies’ bullpen is well-rested and ready for action.
“Competition is a good thing sometimes,” head coach Rob Thomson quipped, a smile underlining his confidence in the squad.
