Fastball

Zack Wheeler is Doing Things No Other Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Has Ever Done

At the age of 35, Wheeler is at the top of his game, and it could manifest itself in a Cy Young Award.
Brady Farkas|
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws a pitch during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on July 12.
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws a pitch during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on July 12. | David Frerker-Imagn Images

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Philadelphia Phillies

At the age of 35, Philadelphia Phillies' ace Zack Wheeler is on top of his game. Through 19 starts in the first half of the season, Wheeler went 9-3 with a 2.36 ERA. He struck out 154 batters in 122.0 innings and is a major reason why the Phillies are 55-41 and battling the New York Mets in the National League East.

The three-time All-Star is also doing things that no pitcher in Phillies history has ever done before, per @StatsCentre:

Among a handful of names currently in the running to take home an NL Cy Young award at season's end, @Phillies ace Zack Wheeler has been a strikeout machine in 2025. Fanning 154 over 122 innings, he currently carries the highest K per 9 IP rate on this franchise list of pitchers

At 11.4, Wheeler's K/9 is higher than Curt Schilling (11.3 in 1997), Aaron Nola (11.1 in 2021), Vince Velasquez (10.4 in 2016) and Wheeler (10.4 in 2021).

The Phillies are hoping to return to the World Series for the second time in four years, and if they do, Wheeler will have to help carry the rotation alongside Ranger Suarez, Jesus Luzardo and Cristopher Sanchez.

An 11-year veteran of the Mets and Phillies, Wheeler is 112-73 lifetime with a 3.27 ERA. He has seven seasons of double-digit wins and is closing in on his eighth.

The Phillies will usher in the second half of the season on Friday night when they host the Los Angeles Angels at 6:45 p.m. ET. Luzardo will be on the mound.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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