PHILADELPHIA -- Zack Wheeler had just issued his third walk of the inning and thrown his 101st pitch of the night.
With the bases loaded and only one out in the sixth inning, interim manager Don Mattingly emerged from the dugout and strolled to the mound. But after a talk with the Phillies’ longtime ace, Mattingly retreated -- and Wheeler stayed atop the mound.
After falling behind 2-0 against Mets center fielder A.J. Ewing, Wheeler got him to hit a grounder to the right side. First baseman Bryce Harper corralled it and fired to second for an out, but the return throw to Wheeler covering first was not in time to complete a double play.
Mattingly again emerged from the dugout, this time to take the ball from Wheeler after 5 2/3 innings. It was the first time Wheeler did not complete six innings since his April 25 season debut, when the Phils eased him back following his thoracic outlet decompression surgery last September.
Reliever Jonathan Bowlan promptly struck out Marcus Semien to strand a pair of runners and preserve a four-run lead.
All told, Wheeler allowed two runs off four hits and three walks -- all of which came in that sixth inning -- while striking out seven. It was only the third time in his seven seasons with the Phillies that Wheeler issued three walks in a single inning, and the first time since April 12, 2023.
Still, Wheeler now has a 2.11 ERA through 11 starts -- by far his best ERA through 11 starts in any season of his 12-year career. His previous best through 11 outings was a 2.42 ERA in 2025.
All of that despite the fact that Wheeler still hasn’t regained his pinpoint command yet.
Along with the three late walks, Wheeler pitched himself into a lot of deep counts early in the game. Each of the four hits he allowed came while he was behind in the count, including a pair on 3-2 offerings.
That came on the heels of issuing three walks in two of his previous three starts this month. Overall, though, his walk rate this season is right in line with his career average (6.9%), and only a touch higher than his incredible 2024 season (6.6%) -- the second campaign in which he finished as the NL Cy Young runner-up.