Latest news with #CyYoungAward-worthy
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
For Zack Wheeler, feeling 'normal' is enough as he tries to regain Cy Young contender form
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.
Newsweek
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Paul Skenes to Red Sox? Insane Trade Thought Pushed by MLB Network Host
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. Last year's National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes, the 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick, continues to pitch at a Cy Young Award-worthy level, but his talents are seemingly being wasted on the Pittsburgh Pirates. After finishing 10 games under .500 last season, 17 games out in last place in the NL Central, the Pirates are even worse this year — already 15 1/2 games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs and 13 games under .500 with 100 games remaining. PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 4: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during batting practice before the game against the Houston Astros at PNC Park on June 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 4: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during batting practice before the game against the Houston Astros at PNC Park on June 4, 2025 in Pittsburgh, the same time, Skenes leads the National League in pitcher WAR at 3.2, WHIP at 0.88, and fewest hits allowed per nine innings with 5.8. His 2.05 ERA is second in the league. Skenes has also been a workhorse, with NL-best figures in games started (13), innings pitched (83 1/3), and complete games, though his league-leading total in the latter category is one. Yet with the Pirates, Skenes this year has a losing record of 4-6. The Pirates have lost eight of his 13 starts. In fact, in nine of his starts, Skenes has pitched at least six innings while allowing two or fewer earned runs. The Pirates record in those games is 4-5. With all of that in mind, MLB Network studio host Greg Amsinger threw out a wild idea. "So every fifth day we're going watch Paul Skenes shove and the Pirates lose 1-0 or 2-0. We're going to do that every fifth day?" Amsinger asked his co-hosts, former players Dan PLesac and Harold Reynolds, on a Wednesday broadcast. Then he pitched his trade idea. "If Paul Skenes were traded to the Boston Red Sox for Marcelo Mayer, Roman Anthony, and Kristian Campbell, would you do it if you were the Pirates?" More MLB: Pirates Owner Wasting Paul Skenes Era, 'Should be Embarrassed,' MLB Analyst Says Mayer, Anthony and Campbell are known as the "Big Three" among Red Sox fans, as the organization's three top prospects. Mayer and Campbell have already made it to the Boston big league roster. Anthony is the No. 1 prospect in baseball, though for some reason the Red Sox have kept him at Triple-A Worcester all season so far. Together, that big three, along with several other highly-rated Red Sox prospects, represent the future of the Boston organization. Plesac, who pitched 18 seasons in MLB for six different teams, wasn't having it. "I'm not into trading him," Plesac said, referring to Skenes. "He's the identity of the Pirates. He's the one attraction that you have to get you to go out and watch a Pirate game." The MLB Network hosts did not address, however, the Red Sox's perspective on the proposed trade. Would the Red Sox sell their future for Skenes, even with four years of team control for the 22-year-old prodigy? It should be noted the Red Sox already have a starting pitcher who this season has been arguably as good as Skenes, or at least very close to his level. Has left-hander Garret Crochet fared better with Boston than Skenes with Pittsburgh? Crochet has a better ERA than Skenes at 1.98, and he leads the American League in strikeouts with 101 (Skenes has fanned 85). Crochet has also started 13 games, and thrown a league-leading 82 innings. His won-loss record with the Red Sox is 5-4. In his seven starts of at least six innings, allowing two runs or fewer, the Red Sox are 5-2. More MLB: Red Sox Frustrate Fans With Call-Up of Triple-A Outfielder Not Named Roman Anthony
