Zack Wheeler struggles in loss to Blue Jays

He was allowed to pitch out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh and did so by striking out pinch-hitter Yainer Diaz, but the Phillies couldn’t get anything going against Cristian Javier and Wheeler left with the score knotted at one. Wheeler has now reeled off three straight starts of allowing exactly one earned run after his nine-run blowup against the Mariners on August 24. He’s struck out 24 in 19 innings in that stretch. He can be started with confidence against the Nationals next week.

Wheeler started the top of the first inning by loading the bases with no outs and got himself out of the jam unscathed with a pop-up, a strikeout, and a flyout. After a clean second inning, Ronald Acuña Jr. took Wheeler deep for a solo homer in the third. Wheeler settled in for three more scoreless innings, holding the Braves to just the one run while collecting nine strikeouts. The 36-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 3.23 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and a 163/43 K/BB ratio across 136 1/3 innings. He’ll take on the Astros in Philadelphia on Thursday.

Wheeler did walk three, but he was able to keep the damage to just the one run while striking out six and scattering four hits allowed. It’s a nice rebound for the right-hander after he was shellacked for four homers and eight runs in his previous outing against the Mariners. This one won’t go on Wheeler’s ‘best of’ DVD, but that’s more compliment to his previous success than insult to this one. He’ll take on Atlanta next weekend.

Wheeler walked two and gave up a three-run homer to Julio Rodríguez and a two-run homer to Cal Raleigh in the first. He fared better afterwards, but he did walk three more batters (the second of those walks included two balls that would have been overturned had anyone challenged). The fifth, though, saw him give up two more homers right away, with Raleigh going deep for a second time. Wheeler gave up four homers for the third time in his career and five walks for the 11th time. He also walked five against the Jays three starts ago after never having done that since 2019. It’s bizarre to see him struggling like this, but nothing seems especially off. If something is troubling him, it’s not really showing up in his velocity or spin rates. He’s due to face the Angels on Sunday.

Wheeler gave up two hits, walked four and struck out seven. The 36-year-old right-hander got a no-decision and hasn’t won’t a start since July 12 against the Tigers, a span of six starts. He has a 2.92 ERA this season. Wheeler is lined up to face the Mariners next Monday.

The unearned run came in the second after a tough error on Alec Bohm on Jordan Walker’s 106-mph smash to first. The remaining runs all came in the fifth, an inning that featured three singles and two doubles. Wheeler’s last four starts have seen him get roughed up three times and exit after two scoreless innings in the other because of a long rain delay. We still don’t see any reason for panic, though. He’s a fine bet to bounce back next week against the Marlins.

Wheeler was looking sharp today after his unusually short outing against the Marlins on Monday, but there was no way the Phillies could bring him back out after a delay that exceeded two hours. Wheeler fanned three and threw 24 of his 32 pitches for strikes before departing. His next turn is due to come Friday against the Blue Jays, but the Phillies could consider moving him up if he feels good Monday. They currently have Andrew Painter lined up for Wednesday’s game against the Nationals.

Wheeler allowed five runs in three innings, and his health was the subject of many overnight rumors after the training staff and coaches huddled in the dugout before removing Wheeler from the game. The veteran averaged 93.5 mph on his four-seamer and 93.1 mph on his sinker, both of which were down almost two mph from his season average. Considering Wheeler had a potentially career-ending blood clot injury last season, there was some concern that the 36-year-old was injured; however, Wheeler shot down those concerns after the game: “The ball just wasn’t coming out like I wanted to. My body wasn’t moving like I wanted it to. I was trying to get through it. Some games I can. Just today, I couldn’t.” We’ll see how his bullpen and arm maintenance sessions go during the week, but it seems like this may be just a one-game blip.

Wheeler gave up six hits, walked one and struck out six. He allowed a lead-off single in the first inning and one batter later a run scored on a stolen base and two throwing errors. Then a solo home run to make it 2-0. In the second inning, a double, triple and a home run led to three more Marlins runs. Wheeler completed the third inning without allowing a run, but with 68 pitches thrown already he didn’t even start the fourth inning. His ERA is up to 2.53. Wheeler’s lined up to face the Orioles on the road on Sunday.

“Never say never,” Wheeler told USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale. “We’ll see. It’ll probably depend on what happens next year. It’s something to think about for sure.” The 36-year-old Wheeler has returned from thoracic outlet surgery to go 10-2 with a 2.16 ERA in 16 starts this season. While it sounds like he might want to take things year by year, the Phillies would almost certainly try to extend him this winter if he’s open to it.