The Phillies hope adjustments Zack Wheeler made in his last start is a ‘confidence builder’
A dive into Wheeler’s biomechanics revealed that he was holding his glove two inches lower than usual. His start vs. his hometown Braves on Saturday will offer him a chance to get back on track.
Say whatever you want about the effect of a managerial change, with Don Mattingly taking over for Rob Thomson — only after Alex Cora turned down the job — on April 28.
The Phillies’ season really turned three nights earlier.
It was April 25, a Friday in Atlanta, when Zack Wheeler returned to the mound several weeks earlier than most people expected. He allowed two runs in five innings, and not coincidentally, the Phillies snapped a 10-game losing streak.
Four months later, all eyes are on Wheeler again.
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Wheeler’s recovery from thoracic outlet syndrome has been remarkable. Last September, he had surgery to remove a rib to relieve a compressed vein. Not only did he make it back, but he went 10-2 with a 2.16 ERA through his first 16 starts.
But Wheeler stumbled after the All-Star break, with a six-start stretch in which he posted an 8.51 ERA. The low point came last week in Seattle, when he gave up eight runs on four homers and five walks in four innings.
A dive into Wheeler’s biomechanics revealed that he was holding his glove two inches lower than usual, causing him to over-rotate through his delivery and follow through toward the third-base on-deck circle rather than directly to the plate.
And although Wheeler pitched better last Sunday in Anaheim — one run in six innings against the Angels — he hesitated to declare that his problems are solved.
“I’m still not out of it,” he said.
Many of the biggest starts of Wheeler’s career, including his major-league debut in 2013, have come against his hometown Braves. He will have another big one Saturday night, if only to prove that he’s back on track after the midseason toe-stub.
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Wheeler is 11-5 with a 3.31 ERA and 154 strikeouts in 130⅓ innings. If he’s back on track, it would round out a formidable top-of-the-rotation trio with lefties Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo.
“It felt like they found some little things that were going on,” Mattingly said of Wheeler’s adjustments before the Angels start. “None of us thought that he was way off or anything else. We knew it was going to be a small adjustment in there somewhere, and the pitching guys seemed to do a nice job of finding that.
“So, hopefully that was a confidence builder from that standpoint, and then just we have building blocks to go through the rest of the way.”
Stott scratched
The Phillies scratched third baseman Bryson Stott less than an hour before Friday night’s game due to “a personal matter,” according to the team.
Edmundo Sosa, slated to start in left field against Braves ace lefty Chris Sale, moved to third base. Bryan De La Cruz was inserted in left field, giving the Phillies another right-handed hitter against Sale.
Hope springs
In what amounts to wishful thinking given the looming labor unrest that threatens to delay the 2027 season, Major League Baseball released the scheduled for spring training.
The Phillies would play their first exhibition game Feb. 19 against the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla., one day before facing the Blue Jays at home in Clearwater. Sixteen of the Phillies’ 30 Grapefruit League games would be played at BayCare Ballpark, including the annual St. Patrick’s Day game on March 17 against the Orioles.
After the spring finale on March 22, the Phillies would break camp and open the season three days later on the road in Washington. The home opener is scheduled for April 1.
» READ MORE: Baseball celebrated itself with All-Star Week. Next up: Avoiding self-destruction with a looming labor fight
Left unsaid: The owners are expected to lock out the players Dec. 1 once the collective bargaining agreement expires. The sides are at odds over several issues, notably the implementation of a salary cap, with the possibility of a prolonged work stoppage and missed games.
Five years ago, a new agreement was agreed upon after a 99-day lockout that left rosters frozen for most of the offseason. Spring training was delayed until March 13; the season started April 8, and teams squeezed in 162 games.
Extra bases
Right fielder Adolis García rejoined the Phillies for the weekend and was on the field before the game. He had season-ending surgery in June on a torn lat muscle in his back, beneath his right shoulder. “The guys love him,” Mattingly said. “So, it’s good to have him around.” García, who signed a one-year contract for $10 million, batted .195 with seven homers and a .599 OPS in 67 games. … Phillies players, staff, coaches, and grounds crew wore purple T-shirts during batting practice to support Joe Torre’s Safe At Home Foundation, which raises awareness of domestic abuse and violence. … Wheeler will be opposed by Braves lefty Martín Pérez (8-8, 3.05 ERA) at 6:05 p.m. Saturday. The pitching matchups for the rest of the series: Sunday — Aaron Nola (6-10, 4.93) vs. righty Tyler Mahle (5-10, 4.25); Monday — Jesús Luzardo (13-5, 3.02) vs. righty Grant Holmes (9-5, 3.62).
With the minor league season winding down, Phillies farm director Luke Murton returns to Phillies Extra to discuss the state of the system and upcoming changes to his role. He also offers an encouraging update on injured top prospect Aidan Miller. Watch here.
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