3 weeks agoPhiladelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson announced on Monday that right-hander
Zack Wheeler will start on Opening Day on Thursday, March 27, against the division-rival Washington Nationals on the road. The decision doesn't come as a surprise, even though the Phillies also have right-hander
Aaron Nola, who would be a staff ace for most other teams. The 34-year-old Wheeler is ranked as the No. 3 fantasy starter at RotoBaller, behind only
Tarik Skubal and
Paul Skenes, after going 16-7 with a 2.57 ERA (3.13 FIP), league-low 0.95 WHIP, 224 strikeouts and 52 walks in 200 innings over 32 starts in his fifth year in Philadelphia. Wheeler has now racked up 200-plus strikeouts and at least 192 innings pitched in three of the last four years. He'll be one of the best DFS plays at the position on Opening Day as well against the Nats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
2 months agoPhiladelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said over the weekend that he'd like to split up right-handers
Zack Wheeler and
Aaron Nola in the starting rotation this year and also do the same with left-handers
Cristopher Sanchez and
Jesus Luzardo. It could result in an opening-week rotation of Wheeler, Sanchez, Nola, Luzardo and left-hander
Ranger Suarez. In addition, right-hander
Joe Ross will be built up as a starter in spring training in case an injury pops up. If the Phillies' top five starters are healthy going into Opening Day, Ross will open up in the bullpen in a relief role. Ross had a 1.67 ERA in 27 innings of relief in 2024 with the Milwaukee Brewers. Thomson said he'd be comfortable using Ross as a multi-inning reliever or in one-inning stints in more high-leverage roles.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NBC Sports Philadelphia - Corey Seidman
6 months agoPhiladelphia Phillies right-hander
Zack Wheeler won't be in the bullpen for Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday against the division-rival New York Mets at Citi Field. Wheeler would only pitch in an emergency situation in this must-win game for the Phillies. Left-hander
Cristopher Sanchez, who started Game 2 on Sunday, will be available in a relief role. The Phillies are starting left-hander
Ranger Suarez on Wednesday. The 34-year-old Wheeler is on just three days of rest and went 111 pitches in the team's Game 1 loss against the Mets on Saturday. Wheeler was excellent in a no-decision on Saturday, tossing seven shutout innings while giving up only one hit, walking four and striking out nine. If Philadelphia wins on Wednesday and forces a deciding Game 5 on Friday back at Citizens Bank Park, Wheeler would make the start for the Phillies.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Inquirer - Scott Lauber
6 months agoPhiladelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Zack Wheeler tossed seven shutout frames in Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday afternoon. He allowed just one hit to third baseman
Mark Vientos and four free passes. He struck out nine. Wheeler put the Phillies in position to win the opening game of the series, but the bullpen could not hold the one-run lead late into the game. The 34-year-old will likely take the again mound in Game 4 or 5, depending on where the Phillies stand in the series. This was another stellar outing for the Cy Young candidate as he posted a dominant 1.83 ERA and 0.79 WHIP across his final six starts of the regular season. Wheeler remains a top pick in DFS formats when he makes his next start this postseason, given his ability to go deep into games and generate a high number of strikeouts.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
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