Phillies NLCS Game 5 starter Zack Wheeler: Managers 'holding back' on pitchers
Zack Wheeler wants to throw a shutout every time he takes the mound.
But the rise of analytics and modern baseball strategy, namely managers’ propensity for turning to the bullpen quicker than ever — especially in the postseason — makes such a performance unlikely.
“As a starter, I think your goal every time is to throw a complete game with no runs scored,” the Philadelphia Phillies’ veteran pitcher said Friday before Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. “I think that’s the goal every time. But realistically these days, the bullpens are probably a little better than they were, so teams take advantage of that.”
Wheeler will start Game 5 of the NLCS on Saturday with the Phillies looking to reestablish a series lead before returning to Philadelphia for Games 6 and 7, if necessary. The Phillies entered Game 4 with a 2-1 series lead.
Wheeler (3.61 ERA) will oppose fellow righty Zac Gallen (3.47 ERA), who took the loss for the Diamondbacks in Game 1. Gallen surrendered five runs on eight hits, including three homers, and two walks in five innings on Monday in Philadelphia.
Wheeler earned the victory after limiting the Diamondbacks to two runs on three hits while striking out eight and walking none in six innings. He said he takes pride pitching deep in games because it takes pressure off the bullpen.
“But from my shoes, coming up as a top prospect, I was babied a little bit and that’s, I guess, normal,” Wheeler said. “I guess if I was drafting somebody who I thought had potential and a really good arm, I would probably do the same thing. But at the same time, I think maybe today they're holding back a little bit too much.
“You know, you can have all the good bullpen arms that you want — talking about the big leagues now — but if every starter is going five innings, it’s going to eventually wear down the bullpen over the long run. And the bullpen right now is where they come in big-time for us is in the playoffs. You need them fresh.”
Wheeler, the sixth overall pick by the San Francisco Giants in 2009, has thrown three complete-game shutouts in his nine major-league seasons, including two for the Phillies in 2021, but has never gone longer than seven innings in the postseason.
The Diamondbacks have allowed only starters Merrill Kelly and Gallen to pitch through the sixth inning this postseason. Manager Torey Lovullo lifted rookie starter Brandon Pfaadt after 5 2/3 shutout innings in Game 3 and planned a bullpen game for Game 4, opening with relief pitcher Joe Mantiply on the mound.
The Phillies started Christopher Sanchez, who hadn’t pitched in nearly a month.
“You need a starter who can go five, six, seven innings,” Wheeler said. “At least a couple that can go deeper. Just throughout the season, those one or two innings more than other starters sometimes add up over the season. But, you know, it’s not my call. I don't make that investment, so I can’t tell you how to do it. But just from being a starter and running through that process, I would like to see the leash unraveled a little bit more. You have to pitch in tough situations. You have to pitch fatigued.”
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phillies Game 5 pitcher Zack Wheeler would like more leeway for starters
