Wheeler's Velocity Drops in Worrying Phillies Start

Zack Wheeler had an uncharacteristic and concerning start on Monday night at loanDepot park. He surrendered six hits, five runs, and two home runs while walking one batter across only three innings pitched. His performance was significantly hampered by a drop in velocity, with his four-seam fastball averaging 93.5 mph, a notable decrease from his season average and one of the lowest career averages recorded.

This rough outing resulted in Wheeler's shortest start since May 17, 2022, and the first time he allowed five runs since May 29, 2025. The Marlins capitalized on his struggles, with hits and home runs contributing to a 5-2 lead early in the game. Following the second inning, Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly, head athletic trainer Paul Buchheit, and other staff members conferred, presumably to assess Wheeler's situation before his night was ultimately cut short after the third inning. Wheeler's earned run average increased from 2.16 to 2.53 following this performance.