WASHINGTON, DC -SEPTEMBER 28: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the second inning during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on September 28, 2024 in Washington, DC.
The Phillies have a game 1 coming up against someone. With Mets-Brewers going to game 3, we do not yet know who that will be. But whoever they face, they have a weapon that will give them the ultimate edge in Game 1. Zack Wheeler.
Wheeler has started 11 playoff games for the Phillies and has a 2.42 ERA over 63.1 innings. But in game 1 he is even better. Jayson Stark joined The Best Show Ever this week and talked about just how great Wheeler has been as the series opener.
“He is one of those true 200-inning Aces that you can trust every time he pitches… That has been especially true in the biggest games. Which brings us to game 1. Game 1s are huge series-changing games… He has now started game 1s 4 times here…
26 innings, meaning he averages pitching into the 7th inning. 11 hits, so an average of under 3 hits per game. The 4 lineups he faced have hit .126. These are playoff games, against playoff teams. He has given up a total of 3 runs in 4 games. So his career game 1 ERA is 1.04. Do you know where that ranks among every pitcher in the division play era, who started at least game 4 game 1s? There are 49 of them and he ranks number 1 among everybody.”
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Those numbers include a 6-inning 2 ER performance last year vs the DBacks, 6.2 innings with 1 ER against the Marlins, 7 scoreless innings against the Padres in 2022, and 6.1 scoreless innings against the Cardinals. They won all 4 of those games.
He is the best Game 1 pitcher in baseball. He may be the best Game 1 pitcher ever. That is what the numbers suggest.
So for all of you Phillies fans who are worried about the Mets, don’t be. At least not in game 1. With Zack Wheeler on the mound, it is hard to see any team beating the Phillies. He is as close to a lock to get them up 1-0 in the series as you can get. There is no pitcher you want on the mound in the playoffs right now more than Zack Wheeler.
Dylan MacKinnon is The Digital Content Coordinator For 97.5 The Fanatic. he has been an Eagles, Flyers, Sixers, and Flyers fan his whole life. He graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelors in Journalism. Dylan has worked at the Fanatic since 2016, starting as an Intern, moving to the Street team, and eventually was hired as an Associate Producer before settling into his current role in the Digital Department. You may hear him referred to on-air as "The D-Train."
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