Phillies' Zack Wheeler Breaks Silence on Velocity Drop After Surprise Injury
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The Philadelphia Phillies' starting rotation has been among the best in baseball this season, and Zack Wheeler is leading the way.
Wheeler's last start was pushed back, but he was able to start on Sunday against the Texas Rangers. His start was pushed back due to shoulder discomfort, and Wheeler noted that he had been dealing with it for "a while," according to MLB.com's Paul Casella.
Wheeler's fastest pitch on Sunday, a four-seam fastball, clocked in at 95.5 mph, per Baseball Savant. His average velocity on that pitch this season is 96.1 mph. Wheeler spoke on the drop in velocity after the game.
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 10: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Texas Rangers during the second inning at Globe Life Field on August 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas.
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 10: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Texas Rangers during the second inning at Globe Life Field on August 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas."I'm not concerned," Wheeler said, per The Athletic's Charlotte Varnes. "I've pitched at that velo before. It will come back."
Wheeler has a 2.68 ERA in 23 starts this year. He also has a league-leading 189 strikeouts, and if his injury is something that is going to linger, it could directly affect the Phillies' World Series dreams. However, manager Rob Thomson also did not express too much concern.
"I'm not concerned," Thomson said, per Varnes. "They're working at some stuff, and he just looks a little bit out of sync. The velocity's not there, but his secondary stuff was good. He got a lot of whiffs."
Wheeler finished the game with seven strikeouts, three walks and allowed just two earned runs. However, it was just the fifth time all season he had issued more than two walks, and it was tied for his shortest outing of the year.
More MLB: Mets' Carlos Mendoza Offers 6-Word Solution to Team's Slump
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Keegan Bradley's Ryder Cup Conundrum Gets Rickie Fowler, Cantlay's Seal of Approval
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. With the Ryder Cup just six weeks away, tensions are rising not just between Team USA and Europe, but within the American squad itself. Especially when it comes to deciding whether Bradley should serve as a rare playing captain when the Cup returns to Bethpage Black this September. Last week, Jordan Spieth stirred the pot during a media appearance, joking that he wouldn't want Bradley to pick himself as a player. Though delivered with a grin, the deeper message was clear. Spieth believes that role should go to someone else, someone like him. But not everyone in the locker room shares that sentiment. During Tuesday's press conference at the BMW Championship, Rickie Fowler and Patrick Cantlay voiced strong support for Bradley's inclusion as both captain and player. LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MAY 17: Rickie Fowler of the United States reacts on the 13th green during the second round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 17, 2024 in Louisville,... LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MAY 17: Rickie Fowler of the United States reacts on the 13th green during the second round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 17, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by) More Getty Images "If I was the captain, I'd pick Keegan (Bradley)," Cantlay shared with reporters during the pre-tournament conference. "I think he's (Bradley) played great. I think he has a lot of responsibility that week, so if he feels that he can play golf like a normal week, given all his other responsibilities, I'm just saying that if I was the (Ryder cup) captain and I was thinking, I think he's definitely one of the best American players, and his results have shown that." Fowler, a five-time Ryder Cup veteran, echoed the endorsement. "Yeah, I would pick him too," he told the reporters during Tuesday's conference. He added, "I think it would be hard to find really any or many Americans that would argue that point." Bradley currently sits at No. 10 in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings with 8,103 points. The 39-year-old has just two events left (the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship) to break into the top six and secure automatic qualification. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and J.J. Spaun have already locked in their spots, leaving three automatic berths up for grabs. The remaining six positions will be filled via captain's picks. Among those, Bradley has already confirmed that Bryson DeChambeau, Russell Henley and Harris English, currently ranked 4th, 5th, and 6th, all assured of playing at Bethpage, regardless of where they finish in points. That leaves Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Maverick McNealy and Andrew Novak battling for the final three picks. Bradley's own stance has evolved over the season. Initially, he said he would only play if he qualified on points. But after winning the Travelers Championship in June, he reconsidered. "If I feel like I'm going to help the team, I'll pick myself," Bradley stated after his Travelers Championship win over Tommy Fleetwood. Fowler acknowledged the dilemma. "I know he's maybe getting to the area on points of where he may think, like, 'Is this a spot where I should not pick myself?'" Fowler shared as quoted. "But I don't think you're going to find many Americans that are going to argue that he shouldn't be on the team." The final six captain's picks will be announced after the Tour Championship. And if Bradley does tee it up at Bethpage, he'll be the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. More Golf: Why Did Sepp Straka Withdraw From BMW Championship Amid Ryder Cup Push?
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Shohei Ohtani, the one who got away, pitches vs. Angels for the first time. Here's how to watch
It feels increasingly distant and unreal as time rambles on, but Shohei Ohtani once indeed pulled double-duty shifts for L.A.'s other baseball team. Ohtani the Los Angeles Angel won Rookie of the Year and a pair of MVP awards, all while stuck in the ''Tungsten Arm' O'Doyle' vortex. Ohtani the Los Angeles Dodger has already nabbed his third MVP and his first World Series ring. The latter is hitting and pitching in his triumphant Anaheim return on Wednesday night, his first start from the mound against his former team. The usually spirited Freeway Series now has some additional road rage in the tank. The two-way phenom sports a 2.37 ERA through his first eight starts (19 innings) of 2025. Ohtani really pounded the strike zone in his previous outing, finishing with eight Ks across a season-high four frames last Wednesday. That start against St. Louis was also his second multi-inning effort without a walk allowed. It was, in a word, heat: With a 98-mph four-seamer (sheesh) and a gnarly sweeper (29 percent usage so far), Ohtani appears to be rounding into form right as the Dodgers regain other critical arms. Tyler Glasnow has a 2.34 ERA and a 41-to-16 K:BB mark since his July return from right shoulder inflammation. Blake Snell (2-1, 2.37 ERA) is back in the rotation after four full months on ice; he was dealing with a left shoulder injury. Roki Sasaki, who has missed most of his MLB rookie campaign with right shoulder impingement, is now almost set for a comeback. Advertisement At the plate, Ohtani's been on something of an all-or-nothing binge. He has 20 Ks in his last 13 games and lined into a triple play Tuesday night, but he is also batting .367 in that stretch and smashed a home run in his most recent at-bat. The Dodgers went just 10-14 in July, then have gone a dispiriting 5-6 so far in August. Their offense has been all over the place since a hot spring, and Dave Roberts' crew is only a couple games over .500 away from Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers are locked in a battle for the NL West lead with the resurgent San Diego Padres, who are set to visit Dodger Stadium this Friday through Sunday. The Angels, meanwhile, are one of six middling teams trailing the Yankees for a final AL wild-card spot. Mike Trout enters Wednesday's action with 10 career home runs against his crosstown rivals in 47 Freeway Series tries. The future Hall of Famer has yet to face Ohtani in an MLB game, though the two did tangle for a two-out, ninth-inning World Baseball Classic finish in 2023. The hard-throwing Ohtani is matched by the Angels' Kyle Hendricks (6-8, 4.63 ERA). The right-handed veteran is in the 6 percentile for whiff rate, and his stuff has been coming in below 87 mph this year. It makes for an interesting style clash on the mound, and a potential get-right matchup for Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and the Dodgers' lineup. Hendricks should all but certainly outlast Ohtani; since May, he's gone at least five innings in all but two starts. Most home runs in both jerseys: Ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. (Photo of Shohei Ohtani: Luke Hales / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Chicago Tribune
2 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Editorial: Hats off, boys — Clarendon Hills is living their Little League World Series dream
Baseball is America's sport, but it can be a grind. The games are long. The sun beats down on you, and those long pants and high socks are unforgiving in the heat. And it's lonely out there on the mound if you find yourself down on the pitch count. But as a kid from the Chicago area, there's likely nowhere else you'd rather be than out there on the field with your best friends. This summer, a special group of boys from Clarendon Hills have turned that dream into a season to remember — and the good times aren't over yet. The Clarendon Hills Little League team has been practicing twice a day since June, and their hard work resulted in a Great Lakes Regional Championship. The next morning, a bus was waiting outside their hotel to drive them from Whitestown, Indiana, to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, — the mecca of baseball for any little boy or girl who loves the sport. It's here that Clarendon Hills will take their place among 10 U.S. teams and 10 international squads vying for the World Series title. For manager Brian Herold, nothing could be sweeter. This is his cherry on top of a 14-year run coaching his boys in Little League, starting with his older son Henry and now wrapping up with his youngest son Brody, a strong hitter and go-to pitcher. Herold describes his youngest as having 'ice in his veins,' especially on the mound. Athletics and coaching are in Brian Herold's blood: His sister is Shannon Spanos, head coach of the Montini Catholic High School women's basketball team that won a state championship in March. And Herold's dad was his Little League coach too. He told us he feels like his coaching career is an important way to give back to his community and be a big part of his kids' lives. At the heart of that commitment is his belief in teaching the Clarendon Hills boys to respect the game. 'If you're going to be on the field, there are some standards for how I expect you to run on and off it,' he said. 'I tell them to appreciate that they were each one of the 12 boys selected to be on this team.' It looks like the boys took his advice. Clarendon Hills distinguished themselves as comeback kids this year, beating two teams — Naperville in districts and Ohio in regionals — that took them down in earlier rounds. It's a special team filled with talent, we're told. Batting second, Jack Kaczmarski is a power hitter who can crush the ball, and cleanup hitter Christian Gernot has produced all season long. On the mound, Brody Herold, Kaczmarski and Luke Schaller have been strong in the clutch. But word is that friendship is what really binds these boys. When they're not playing ball, Herold said many of them bike around the neighborhood together and pal around at each other's houses. Now they're touring Howard J. Lamade Stadium and bunking together in a dorm next door to the Australian team. These boys are living some of the best days of their lives, and we couldn't be happier for them. Youth sports get a bad rap — sometimes rightfully — these days. Too many parents invest in speed and agility coaches for their young athletes instead of sending them outside to play. And unruly parents often forget that most youth coaches are volunteers trying to make sure the kids learn the game — though, sometimes, coaches would do well to remember that's their number one job too. That's why it's worth celebrating teams such as this one, which keep the focus on camaraderie and the love of the game. Parents and sideline siblings spend hours outside watching the ups and downs of the season, and as much as they wish they had their weekends back, everyone's always sad to see it end. We're glad the Clarendon Hills club and their families get to keep things going a little bit longer at one of the most special venues in all of baseball. They play their first game at 2 p.m. Wednesday against the winner of the Mountain Region. Good luck in Williamsport, boys.
