Philly Leader

Nights like Wednesday are a reminder of why the Philadelphia Phillies invested significantly in Zack Wheeler, who showcased his talent in a 5-1 victory against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park. Despite chilly weather that prompted most players to wear long sleeves, Wheeler took the mound in his usual short sleeves.

Phillies shortstop Trea Turner described Wheeler as a complete player, stating, “He’s the total package.” Wheeler allowed only three hits and one run while striking out ten over seven innings. This performance included 25 swings and misses, marking his career-high for a regular-season game and setting a new benchmark for the current MLB season.

Wheeler, in the first year of a three-year, $126 million contract extension, has maintained a remarkable streak by pitching at least six innings and allowing two or fewer earned runs for 13 consecutive regular-season starts. This achievement places him among elite company, as only a few pitchers have achieved similar streaks since earned runs became an official statistic in the early 20th century.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson praised Wheeler's value to the team, saying, “Not by me, not by his teammates, either.” Wheeler’s streak is unmatched by a Phillies pitcher since 1912, with Dutch Leonard holding the previous record with 12 consecutive starts in 1947.

Although Wheeler felt his fastball command was not at its best, his offspeed pitches were effective. He struck out batters using a variety of pitches including his fastball, splitter, curveball, cutter, and sweeper. Rockies designated hitter Kris Bryant acknowledged Wheeler's competitive nature and precise pitching, noting, “He doesn't make too many mistakes middle.”

The Phillies secured an early lead thanks to Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, who contributed key runs. After a solo homer by Hunter Goodman, which temporarily closed the gap, the Phillies added an insurance run in the seventh. Turner praised Rojas for his role, and Thomson highlighted Rojas’ productive performance, saying, “This was the best Major League game he’s played.”

In summary, Wheeler’s exemplary performance and the team's solid support underlined his position as a leading Cy Young contender. Rojas concluded his contribution by affirming, “I did my job.”