This year, Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler was obviously left out of the All-Star Game, and he is upset about it. Wheeler blasted MLB for leaving him off of both the All-Star Game team and the first round of replacement pitchers after venting his rage on the Reds with a 14-strikeout masterpiece on Tuesday night (PHI 4, CIN 1).I find it annoying,” Wheeler remarked. “It’s kind of BS. Maybe if I wasn’t necessarily right in there, I wouldn’t be saying this, but I feel like I’ve earned it … Just because I pitch on a certain day, I can’t pitch an All-Star Game, or even be there, or get the recognition for it.”
On Tuesday, Max Meyer (Marlins), Jacob Misiorowski (Brewers), and Paul Skenes (Pirates) were replaced on the National League All-Star roster by Braxton Ashcraft (Pirates), Jesús Luzardo (Phillies), and Riley O’Brien (Cardinals). Pitchers who start the Sunday before the All-Star break are not allowed to throw in the All-Star Game. Meyer, Skenes, and The Miz are all scheduled to pitch on Sunday.
Wheeler is also in that group. He is positioned to begin the last game of the first half for Philadelphia. Nevertheless, like Meyer, Misiorowski, and Skenes, he may still be named to the roster and acknowledged as an All-Star before being replaced. This year’s All-Star Game will take place at Citizens Bank Park, giving Wheeler the opportunity to thank his home crowd and vice versa.As he argued to pitch in the All-Star Game, Wheeler continued, “I feel fine the second and third days (after a start), when I usually throw my bullpen.” “So I’d be fine throwing an inning, but it’s not even an option, I guess.”
If a player selected by the fans to start the All-Star Game is unable to play, the next player with the most votes will take his place. If not, MLB chooses replacements for the All-Star Game. Every club needs an All-Star, pitchers replace pitchers, and position players replace position players. If not, there are no regulations governing the All-Star roster’s substitutions.
Wheeler is now 9-1 with a 2.28 ERA in 14 starts this season thanks to Tuesday’s brilliance. Additionally, his under-the-hood statistics are excellent: 4.90 strikeout-to-walk ratio, 2.70 projected ERA, and 3.12 FIP. Despite not making his season debut until April 25 due to thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, Wheeler is ranked 18th among pitchers with 2.9 WAR.
In his seventh season with the Phillies, Wheeler is a three-time All-Star and two-time NL Cy Young runner-up. The Phillies are now within two games of the NL East lead after Tuesday’s victory and the Braves’ defeat (PIT 12, ATL 4). They haven’t been this close since April 13. As recently as June 7, they were nine and a half games behind.
