In game 1 of the National League Division Series, Zack Wheeler threw one of the best games of his entire career, going 7 innings with 9 strikeouts. He generated 30 swings and misses, the 3rd-most in any postseason game since 2008 (the start of pitch tracking).
He’s impressed everyone, including former St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright.
“What he did yesterday was what he did all year,” said Wainwright.” “More than I’ve ever seen him, he threw that splitter.”
Wheeler threw 10 splitters on Saturday, getting 3 strikeouts with the pitch. He threw it 7.3% of the time in the regular season. He threw it at a 9% clip in game 1.
“His repertoire is just as good as there is in all of baseball,” continued Wainwright. He admitted that the number of offerings Wheeler has at a high level makes the former ace “very jealous”.
Wheeler came out of the gate hot yesterday. His fastball was peaking at 99MPH. He averaged 95.3 MPH in the regular season. The quick start worried Wainwright.
“You can blow out that adrenalin real quick and then you kind of on fumes going forward. It didn’t seem to bother him at all. He just sat 96/97 after that, which is fine.”
The performance showed exactly what the Phillies had: a true ace. But what does it mean to be that #1 in the rotation?
“The attention and pressure put on you from being that true #1, it’s an earned thing. It’s expectations going into it from your city,” said Wainwright. “They expect you to go out and deliver and you couldn’t have asked for better than that from Wheeler yesterday.”
Wheeler has repeatedly proven that he is the cream of the crop in all of Major League Baseball.
You can’t mention Wheeler without bringing up the starters behind him. Wainwright also praised the combination of Aaron Nole, Cristopher Sánchez, and Ranger Suárez.
“You have 3 guys behind Wheeler that could very easily be argued as great #2 starters on any other rotation. They all pair off each other so well. I think it’s brilliant they go right-left-right-left like they’re doing.”
While the Phillies have the pieces in place to certainly make a run, Wainwright emphasized the importance of taking game 2.
“You got to win today, because you don’t want to have to go into Citi Field and have to win in that hornet’s nest.”
The Phillies are just 1 win away from evening up the series. If that happens, it’s, again, anybody’s game.
photo credit: imagin sports images p
