Wheeler ready to turn page, get back on track against O's
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BALTIMORE -- Zack Wheeler threw his scheduled bullpen session on Friday afternoon at Camden Yards.
By all accounts, he is ready to start on Sunday afternoon against the Orioles.
“We were never ...” interim manager Don Mattingly said Friday.
Concerned? Expecting anything different? Whatever the perceived terminology, it was fair to ask about Wheeler’s health one more time before Sunday’s start. Wheeler allowed five runs on six hits, one walk and two home runs and struck out six in three innings in an 8-7 walk-off loss to the Marlins on Monday in Miami.
It was his shortest start since April 17, 2022. It was the first time he allowed five runs in a game since May 29, 2025.
It was fair to ask because Wheeler’s four-seam fastball averaged only 93.5 mph, down 1.7 mph from his season average vs. Miami. It was the second-lowest four-seam average in any start in his career. He averaged a career-low 93.1 mph on April 3, 2024.
“It's one of those days,” Wheeler said afterward. “You have a bad day every once in a while, I’m sure. Right?”
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Wheeler was nauseous on Monday, too, although he declined to get into specifics.
“That didn't really affect me out there,” he said. “Ball just wasn't coming out like I wanted it to. Body wasn't moving like I wanted it to. I was trying to get through it. Some games I can, and just today I couldn't.”
It goes without saying that the Phillies hope to see Wheeler back to his typical self on Sunday. They need their annual National League Cy Young Award contender pitching well, if they want to make the postseason.