PHILADELPHIA -- Don Mattingly is not worried about Zack Wheeler.
Neither is Zack Wheeler.
Wheeler once again started out looking like his old self in Tuesday night’s 6-4 win over the Marlins -- only to fade away in the fifth inning.
The Phillies ace appeared to be on the verge of cruising his way into the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Wheeler had two outs and nobody on in the fifth. He had struck out seven and allowed just one hit -- albeit a Griffin Conine homer -- to that point.
Wheeler, though, couldn't finish off Miami catcher Brian Navarreto on a 3-2 pitch. He not only walked Navaretto, but then also walked Jakob Marsee on five pitches -- the last of which was nowhere close to the zone.
Marlins second baseman Xavier Edwards then ripped a 1-0 pitch into left-center field for an RBI single, but Wheeler caught a break when Edwards was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. That kept the inning from spiraling any further, as it did last Wednesday in St. Louis.
In that one, however, Wheeler allowed four consecutive two-out hits that plated four runs. This time around, it was the free passes that did him in.
“Started off well,” Wheeler said. “I feel like it's been the past couple games, once I get into it a little deeper, it just doesn't work out for me.”
Having walked four batters -- and gone to seven three-ball counts overall -- Wheeler's day came to an end after that troublesome fifth frame, which ran his pitch count up to 98 (57 strikes). He departed with the Phillies trailing, 2-1, meaning Wheeler still has not earned a win since July 12.
“That’s the frustrating part, really,” Wheeler said. “It's just not characteristic of me. I feel like I've been walking too many guys. Just got to figure it all out together. Just a little rough stretch for me.”
The six-start span without a victory is Wheeler's longest since 2018 when he was still with the Mets.
Though Wheeler allowed only two runs on two hits, it's not the type of outing he was hoping for as he looks to get on track.
The stuff is there.
Unlike his July 27 start in Miami, where his velocity dipped significantly, Wheeler's velocity was actually up across the board on Tuesday night. His pitches also had their usual movement.
“The fastball felt as good as it has in a really long time, actually,” Wheeler said. “We made a little adjustment, just getting into my legs a little bit more -- but it caused my offspeed [pitches] to be not good today. So the fastball was there, but offspeed was not there today.”
In other words, this recent rough patch is nothing like the one around this same time last year, when the Phillies initially couldn't figure out why Wheeler's velocity was diminished. Of course, he was ultimately diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) and underwent season-ending surgery.
None of that is a concern this year. But his 6.64 ERA over his past five starts certainly is.
While the underlying metrics all point to Wheeler still having his full arsenal at his disposal, it's simply not as effective without his usual pinpoint command.
“I mean, Zack's not one of the guys I worry about, if that’s what you’re asking,” Mattingly said. “I’ve known Zach Wheeler for a long time. The stuff is still good.”
Added Wheeler: “I know I’ve still got it. There's no question about that.”