Should the Phillies Use Zack Wheeler in Relief in Game 7?

It’s do-or-die in Game 7 of the NLCS against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Zack Wheeler needs to be available for Rob Thomson and the Philadelphia Phillies. His team should not have allowed the series to extend this far. However, they must now ask their ace to pick them up with a relief appearance.

Wheeler has an opportunity to earn a spot in MLB history with a heroic performance out of the bullpen.

Baseball fans will always remember Madison Bumgarner pitching five shutout innings in relief for the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series.

The free agent even reminded his former manager Bruce Bochy of the legendary performance with an offer (that might’ve been half-serious?) to pitch for the Texas Rangers in Game 7 of the ALCS.

Thomson showed the willingness to use starters out of the bullpen during Philadelphia’s run to the World Series in 2022. Zach Eflin unexpectedly jumped into the closer’s role early in the playoffs. Ranger Suarez, who will start Game 7 against Arizona, closed out Game 5 of the NLCS just two days after throwing five innings as a starter.

Thomson spoke after the stunning Game 6 loss about whether he'd consider using Wheeler in Game 7.

The Phillies don’t have the most reliable right-handed options out of the bullpen. Craig Kimbrel has struggled in the playoffs. It’s certainly fair to question whether Thomson should use him in a high-leverage situation in Game 7 with the season on the line.

Orion Kerkering hasn’t looked nearly as sharp in his last two appearances, and Seranthony Dominguez has been similarly shaky. Jeff Hoffman has proved himself throughout the season, but he doesn’t have much experience at the back end of the bullpen.

Thomson’s decision wouldn’t come without risk. Phillies fans will always remember Game 4 of the NLCS in 2010 when Charlie Manuel called on Roy Oswalt out of the bullpen.

Oswalt pitched ⅔ of an inning and took the loss just three days after starting Game 2. The move put the Phillies in a hole down 3-1 against the Giants. They lost the series in six games.

Oswalt was scheduled to throw in between starts the same day that his manager made the call. Tuesday would be Wheeler’s scheduled day to throw in between starts.

Thomson must also consider that Bumgarner pitched in Game 7 of the World Series with an entire offseason ahead of him.

Could Wheeler patch up the hole left by the key right-handers in the Philadelphia bullpen? There’s only one way to find out.

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The Phillies are back in the NLCS. For the second straight year, they knocked the 100+ win Braves out of the playoffs in the NLDS. Everyone called them the greatest lineup in Baseball history. Didn't seem so potent against the Phillies. They were held to just 7 runs across 4 games. With guys like Ronald Acuna and Matt Olson being quiet the entire series. And now, we can look forward to the NLCS and the Diamondbacks.

The Phillies get the next 3 days off. Which they may need after how much they partied after the win in game 4. And then on Monday, it begins. They need 4 more wins to get to the World Series, and 8 more to parade down Broad Street.

And there is good reason to be very confident in this team. As good as last year's team was, this roster is even better. To start, they have Trea Turner who is putting up crazy numbers. Bryce Harper is still the best playoff hitter ever. And now you have Nick Castellanos playing out of his mind after he struggled in the playoffs last year. And maybe more important, is how great the pitching looks.

The Braves may be choke artists, but that was still a very good lineup. They were shut down by the Phillies pitchers though. Wheeler, Nola, and Suarez all pitched gems. And apart from game 2, the Bullpen shut the door on the Braves once the starters came out. The bullpen goes deep, far deeper than it did last year. The lineup is just as deep. This team is very good.

So before the NLCS, let's get a reminder of just how good this 26-man roster is. And while we are at it, let's see how all of them have played against the Diamondbacks so far this season.

Season Stats

.252/.310/.452/.762

20 HRs, 28 2Bs, 5 3Bs, 63 RBIs, 70 Runs, 16 SBs, 35 BBs, 138 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.400/.478/1.000/1.478

8 for 20, 2 HRs, 2 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 6 RBIs, 8 Runs, 1 SB, 2 BBs, 2Ks

Playoff Stats

.273/.333/.636/.969

6 for 22, 2 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 6 RBIS, 0 SBs, 1 BB, 5 Ks

Season Stats

.293/.401/.499/.900

21 HRs, 29 2Bs, 1 3B, 72 RBIs, 84 Runs, 11 SBs, 80 BBs, 119 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.296/.441/.370/.812

8 for 27, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 4 RBIs, 4 Runs, 1 SB, 7 BBs, 6 Ks

Playoff Stats

.368/.538/.842/1.380

7 for 19, 3 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 5 RBIs, 7 Runs, 1 SB, 7 BBs, 5 Ks

Season Stat

.280/.329/.419/.747

15 HRs, 32 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 62 RBIs, 78 Runs, 31 SBs, 39 BBs, 100 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.393/.414/.786/1.200

11 for 28, 3 HRs, 0 2Bs, 1 3B, 5 RBIs, 7 Runs, 1 SB, 1 BB, 5 Ks

Playoff Stats

.238/.292/.381/.673

5 for 21, 1 HR, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 7 RBIs, 3 Runs, 1 Sb, 2 BBs, 10 Ks

Season Stats

.266/.320/.459/.778

26 HRs, 35 2Bs, 5 3Bs, 76 RBIs, 102 Runs, 30 SBs, 45 BBs, 150 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.241/.353/.379/.732

7 for 29, 1 HR, 1 2B, 0 3Bs, 4 RBIs, 5 Runs, 4 SBs, 5 BBs, 6 Ks

Playoff Stats

.500/.538/.917/1.455

12 for 24, 2 HRs, 4 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 3 RBIs, 5 Runs, 4 SBs, 2 BBs, 4 Ks

Season Stats

.274/.327/.437/.765

20 HRs, 31 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 97 RBIs, 74 Runs, 4 SBs, 42 BBs, 94 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.346/.346/.423/.769

9 for 26, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 8 RBIs, 4 Runs, 0 SBs, 0 BBs, 1 K

Playoff Stats

.190/.320/.286/.606

4 for 21, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs, 0 SBs, 4 BBs, 6 Ks

Season Stats

.277/.372/.458/.829

12 HRs, 25 2Bs, 6 3Bs, 60 RBIs, 58 Runs, 10 SBs, 59 BBs, 144Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.263/.300/.316/.616

5 for 19, 0 HRs, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 RBIs, 2 Runs, 0 SB, 1 BB, 10 Ks

Playoff Stats

.357/.400/.643/1.043

5 for 14, 1 HR, 1 2B, 0 3Bs, 1 RBI, 2 Runs, 1 SB, 1 BB, 5 Ks

Season Stats

.302/.342/.430/.771

2 HRs, 9 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 23 RBIs, 24 Runs, 14 SBs, 5 BBs, 42 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Has Not Faced The Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

.048/.091/.048/.139

1 for 21, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 1 Run, 0 SBs, 1 BB, 9 Ks

Season Stats

.272/.311/.476/.788

29 HRs, 37 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 106 RBIs, 79 Runs, 11 SBs, 36 BBs, 185 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.258/.314/.355/.669

8 for 31, 0 HRs, 3 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 4 RBIs, 4 Runs, 1 SB, 3 BBs, 10 Ks

Playoff Stats

.391/.440/.643/1.083

9 for 23, 4 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 5 RBIs, 6 Runs, 1 SB, 2 BBs, 3 Ks

Season Stats 

.197/.343/.474/.817 

47 HRs, 19 2Bs, 1 3B, 104 RBIs, 108 Runs, 0 SBs, 126 BBs, 215 Ks 

Stats vs Diamondbacks 

.192/.364/.462/.825 

5 for 26, 2 HRs, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 RBIs, 5 Runs, 7 BBs, 6 Ks 

Playoff Stats 

.160/.222/.240/.462

4 for 25, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3B, 1 RBI, 1 Run, 0 SBs, 1 BB, 10 Ks

Season Stats

.251/.293/.427/.719

10 HRs, 15 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 30 RBIs, 34 Runs, 4 SBs, 8 BBs, 74 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.182/.182/.364/.545

2 for 11, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 2 RBIs, 1 Run, 1 SB, 0 BBs, 4 Ks

Playoff Stats

Has not appeared

Season Stats

.238/.319/.417/.736

2 HRs, 7 2Bs, 1 3B, 11 RBIs, 12 Runs, 2 SBs, 10 BBs, 27 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Did Not Face The Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

.143/.333/.143/.476

1 for 7, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 1 RBI, 1 Run, 1 SB, 2 BBs, 3 Ks

Season Stats

.212/.272/.348/.620

5 HRs, 8 2Bs, 1 3B, 21 RBIs, 18 Runs, 3 SBs, 15 BBs, 55 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Did Not Faced The Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

Has Not Appeared

Season Stats

.204/.274/.283/.557

1 HR, 4 2Bs, 1 3B, 12 RBIs, 15 Runs, 2 SBs, 9 BBs, 29 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.286/.375/.286/.661

2 for 7, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 1 Run, 0 SBs, 1 BB, 4 Ks

Playoff Stats

Has Not Appeared

Season Stats

3.61 ERA, 13-6, 212 Ks, 192 IPs, 1,08 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

3.00 ERA, 1-1, 10 Ks, 12 IPs, 1.17 WHIP, 2 Starts

Playoff Stats

2.08 ERA, 1-0, 18 Ks, 13 IPs, .069 WHIP, 2 Starts

Season Stats

4.46 ERA, 12-9, 202 Ks, 193.2 IPs, 1.15 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

5.40 ERA, 1-0, 9 Ks, 6.2 IPS, 1.05 WHIP, 1 Start

Playoff Stats

1.42 ERA, 2-0, 12 Ks, 12.2 IPs, 0.87 WHIP, 2 Starts

Season Stats

4.18 ERA, 4-6, 119 Ks, 125 IPs, 1.42 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

3.75 ERA, 0-0, 12 Ks, 12 IPs, 1.00 WHIP, 2 Starts,

Playoff Stats

1.04 ERA, 1-0, 6 Ks, 8.2 IPs, 0.58 WHIP, 2 Starts

Season Stats

4.38 ERA, 15-6, 138 Ks, 172.2 IPs, 1.31 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Has Not Faced the Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

Has Not Appeared

Season Stats

3.44 ERA, 3-5, 96 Ks, 99.1 IPs, 1.05 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

Has Not Faced the Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 0 Ks, 1 IP, 2.00 WHIP, 1 Appearance

Season Stats

4.18 ERA, 9-9, 111 Ks, 153 IPs, 1.21 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

8.1 ERA, 0-1, 3 Ks, 6.2 IPs, 1.20 WHIP, 1 Start

Playoff Stats

Has Not Appeared

Season Stats

3.26 ERA, 23 Saves, 94 Ks, 69 IPs, 1.04 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

0.00 ERA, 1 Save, 4 Ks, 3 IPs, 0.33 WHIP. 3 Appearances

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 2 Saves, 1 Hold, 1 K, 3 IPs, 0.67 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

1.74 ERA, 10 Saves, 64 Ks, 41.1 IPs, 1.16 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

0.00 ERA, 1 Save, 1 K, 1 IP, 1.00 WHIP, 1 Appearance

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 4 Holds, 4 Ks, 4 IPs, 4 Appearances

Season Stats

4.62 ERA, 3 Saves, 65Ks, 60.1 IPs, 1.14 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

0.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 3 Ks, 2 IPS, 1.50 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Playoff Stats

5.40 ERA, 0 Saves,  1 Hold, 1.2 IPS, 2 Ks, 2.40 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

2.41 ERA, 1 Save, 69 Ks, 52.1 IPs, 0.92 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

3.86 ERA, 0 Saves, 4 Ks, 2.1 IPs, 2.14 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 2 Holds, 2.2 IPS, 4 Ks, 1.50 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

3.78 ERA, 2 Saves, 48 Ks, 50 Ks, 50 IPs, 1.40 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

27.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 1 Blown Save, 2 Ks, 1.1 IPs, 3 Appearances

Playoff Stats

18.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 1 Hold, 1-1, 1 K, 1 IP, 2.00 WHIP, 1 HLD, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

3.29 ERA, 2 Saves, 108 Ks, 87.2 IPs, 1.02 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

9.64 ERA, 0 Saves, 4 Ks, 4.2 IPs, 1.71 WHIP, 2 Appearances

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 1 Save, 1 Hold, 2.1 IPS, 1 K, 1.29 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

0.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 6 Ks, 3.0 IPs, 1.33 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Has Not Faced The Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 1 HLD, 1 K, 3 IPs, 0.67 WHIP, 3 Appearances