Zack Wheeler spun seven shutout innings with four hits, one walk, and five strikeouts to earn the win in a 3-0 victory over the Nationals on Wednesday.
It was as if Wheeler didn’t break a sweat during this start. He only needed 91 pitches to get through these seven shutout innings and just one runner reached scoring position. Of the four hits he let up, only two left the infield as he commanded his entire repertoire beautifully. His fastball was regularly at the letters or elevated above the zone, his cutter consistently bearing down on the hands of the Nationals’ left-handed batters, and his splitter diving low and below the zone practically every single time he threw it. This was the exact type of start the reeling Phillies needed and Wheeler is scheduled for a potentially marquee matchup with the Brewers next time out. He could wind up with a second start if the end of the regular season gets hairy, but it’s difficult to predict that.
