Yesterday, during Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, Zack Wheeler gave a pitching clinic to the Arizona Diamondbacks hitters, who could only see the Phillies starter’s control.
Without fear of being wrong, we can confidently say that Wheeler is the best pitcher still active in the current playoffs. He and his friends, members of the Phillies rotation, dominate to such an extent that it will take very good preparation and a good dose of courage to hope to beat them.
So far, the team’s starters’ earned run average is 1.48 and there’s no reason for them to slump by the end.
During yesterday’s meeting, thanks to Wheeler who had an excellent evening, the Phillies flew over the DBacks (6-1) without much difficulty and took the lead by 3-2 in the series.
There was a time not so long ago that the team could only count on a big attack, the defense was average and the pitchers were just as average. Today, Phillies fans can expect more from their favorites, because all three components work in unison and the results prove it.
Wheeler, a 33-year-old veteran, is in his fourth season in a Phillies uniform and has reached a level of maturity making him one of the very good pitchers in the majors, having missed two full seasons due to of injuries. However, he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves and that’s a shame.
During his team’s last victory, Wheeler pitched for seven innings, giving up only one run on six hits to his opponents. He won a third game in the 2023 playoffs and his earned run average is 2.08.
If the Phillies win the big honors, Wheeler is likely to find himself in the shadow of his teammate Bryce Harper when the time comes to identify the MVP of the current playoffs, but he still has time to assert himself.
Since the start of the playoffs, manager Rob Thomson has given the ball more often than not to Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Ranger Suarez. Cristopher Sanchez has seen less action than this trio, who have been more than convincing to date.
During Friday’s game, the Phillies’ relief team faltered and this is the worst scenario to predict until the end, because it would be a shame to see the relief pitchers come and destroy the efforts of the starters who have been doing the same since the beginning of the present series.
By the end of the series, Rob Thomson will continue to rely on Wheeler, Nola and Suarez to handcuff the opposing attacks and hope to finish the work started last year.
