For Zack Wheeler, feeling 'normal' is enough as he tries to regain Cy Young contender form

USA Today

15 hours ago

WASHINGTON – It's not like the Philadelphia Phillies have a Zack Wheeler problem, per se.
He's still giving them a chance to win every time out, still handcuffs batters with a crackling fastball and beguiling sweeper and remains the only guy they'd want to take the ball in Game 1 of a playoff situation.
Yet the Wheeler that Philly has come to know and love is the Cy Young Award-worthy, metronomic supplier of lengthy outings and general dominance.
For the past half-a-dozen starts, Wheeler hasn't quite been that guy – but the Phillies are determined to build him back up again.
His pattern of ordinary, rather than otherworldly performance continued in his Aug. 15 start against the Washington Nationals, when he needed 97 pitches to complete five innings and pitch MacKenzie Gore to a draw when he left the game.
The Phillies managed to punish the Nationals bullpen, getting back-to-back home runs from Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper to claim a 6-2 victory at Nationals Park. And in snapping a three-game losing streak, the Phillies improved to 70-52 and now have a six-game advantage over the New York Mets in the NL East.
'I thought it was better,' Phillies manager Rob Thomson said of Wheeler's outing. 'Gaining some ground.'
It's an odd perspective for a guy who's been dominant in an almost linear fashion since joining the Phillies in 2020. The vibes remain good, but for now, it's hard to ignore a line of demarcation in their ace's season.
After striking out 12 and pitching a one-hitter July 6 at Cincinnati, Wheeler had a 2.17 ERA in 18 starts, pitching into the seventh inning in eight of them.
Yet in his six starts since, Wheeler has failed to complete six innings in three of them, with a 4.55 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP, compared to his season-long 0.94 mark.
Sandwiched in the middle of that sequence: Shoulder soreness compelled the Phillies to push Wheeler's Aug. 8 start at Texas back two days.
Add it all up, and it's not exactly red flags. Just a few yellow cautions for a 35-year-old fiercely proud of his ability to get deep into games.
Yet Friday, Wheeler's velocity ticked up: His four-seam fastball averaged 97.4 mph, 1.2 mph harder than his season average and a significant tick up from his 94.2 mph average heater in his Texas start.
And Thomson took it as a good sign that Wheeler was salty about getting yanked at 97 pitches and five innings. For now, Wheeler can live with less than perfect if it means his command is improving.
'It's been iffy. Today was a little bit better,' Wheeler said. 'I was able to throw high without trying to throw it high. Once I get the full feel for that back, I think everything will fall into place.
'All around, good day for the most part.'
Wheeler struck out six Nationals in his five innings and elicited nine whiffs or called strikes on his sweeper. He just lacked a finishing coat at times.
The Nationals' first batter of the game, James Wood, worked Wheeler for an eight-pitch walk – and then scored on a CJ Abrams double. In the third, first baseman Josh Bell worked Wheeler for 12 pitches, fouling off eight two-strike offerings before grounding to first.
And an inning later, Luis Garcia put up a nine-pitch fight against Wheeler before grounding out – followed by a game-tying home run from rookie Daylen Lile.
Add it up, and Wheeler needed 97 throws to complete five innings. His recent bouts of shortness – many pitchers should be so fortunate – is in contrast to his 2024 season, when he probably should've won the Cy Young Award while completing at least seven innings in 13 of 32 starts, and at least six in 26.
Still, there's 40 games and eight or so starts to get back to the guy they know and love. And then, most likely, another postseason run.
For now, the goals are modest – at least on Wheeler's scale.
'Everything felt normal,' he said, and that's a good place to start.