Sep 17, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Zack Wheeler did it again on Tuesday in the Phillies 5-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. What he did was throw his 24th quality start of the season, best in baseball. But more historically, it was his ninth consecutive start where he allowed two runs or fewer. He has gone at least six innings in each of those starts.
The Phillies franchise record for most consecutive starts allowing two runs or fewer is 10 - set by Aaron Nola in 2017. Wheeler can match that in New York on Sunday and break it during the final weekend of the season in Washington.
He improved to 16-6 this season and lowered his ERA to 2.56. He is still likely chasing Atlanta's Chris Sale for the Cy Young Award, but the door isn't shut yet. In fact, a deeper dive into the numbers show that Wheeler has been more consistent that Sale and has had several more quality starts - and not just the cheap six -inning, three-run variety.
And although he's biased, Wheeler's teammate Bryce Harper also believes Wheeler is the best pitcher in the National League this season and said so more than once after the game on Tuesday, both on the television broadcast with Tom McCarthy and Ben Davis, and later with reporters in the locker room.
"He's a Cy Young, man," Harper told reporters. "I don't think anybody in baseball is better than him at this point. People down in Atlanta probably think the same thing about the guy throwing down there. I thought (Wheeler) got robbed of it three years ago and I believe he's earned it this year."
Harper took the stumping for Wheeler to another level on TBS too, and even got former Philie Jimmy Rollins to endorse Wheeler:
Bryce Harper on Zack Wheeler:
"He's the Cy Young. I don't care what anybody says. I don't care what the numbers look like. He's the Cy Young. He's the best in baseball, man" pic.twitter.com/AddCiRmjk1
Take into consideration that six of those nine straight starts of holding teams to two runs or less have come against teams that are currently in a playoff spot or still in the wild card race within three games of a spot.
In fact, of Wheeler's 30 starts this season, 15 have come against winning teams. He's given up two runs or fewer in 12 of those 15.
Against winning teams this season, Wheeler has thrown 94 1/3 innings and has a 2.86 ERA and a 1.039 WHIP. He's gone at least six innings in 12 of the 15.
"The most consistent player on this team for the last three years has been, Zack Wheeler." 🤝
Phillies Pregame Live knows how dominant the Phillies can be whenever their ace is on the mound. pic.twitter.com/DOsWSMimQd
Sale has been as good, and some of his numbers are even better - in 14 starts against winning teams (out of 28) he has a 1.98 ERA and a 1.004 WHIP. Hard to argue those, but the Braves also don't really let him go long in games in general. In those 14 starts, as good as Sale was, he threw fewer than six innings eight times.
It's two great, veteran pitchers playing a game of can-you-top this. It's fun to watch.
Wheeler was sensational against the Brewers. He allowed just the one run, courtesy of a triple by Garrett Mitchell that scored Wiliam Contreras, who singled, from first. Those were two of just four hits the Brewers got off Wheeler - in a game in front of their home crowd on a night they had a chance to clinch the N.L. Central.
Wheeler said, 'Not tonight, Brew Crew." He struck out six - including making old friend Rhys Hoskins look really bad on this sweeper:
Zack Wheeler. Continuing his Cy Young caliber campaign.
7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
99 pitches
pic.twitter.com/oOAF8hEC90
"He's really something, man" manager Rob Thomson told reporters after the game. "He's been so consistent ever since he's gotten here. He's earned every penny he's made. He's so huge to this club. I don't know what his record is after games we've lost, but it's got to be really, really good. He just takes the ball and he can manhandle people when he wants to."
Just so you know, we looked it up for Rob. In games following a loss when Wheeler pitches this season, the Phillies are 9-4. Wheeler himself is 8-3 with a 2.50 ERA and 0.907 WHIP in 82 2/3 innings with 87 strikeouts in those 13 games.
No matter how many surrogates Wheeler has championing his cause, he knows the odds are against him. And while he's said repeatedly that earning a Cy Young award is a goal of his, it's not the be all, end all.
The be all, end all is a World Series ring. And that's the only prize Wheeler is focused on as October nears.
