PHILADELPHIA — Rarely one to look too far ahead and seldom publicly dwelling on individual achievements, Rob Thomson chose Saturday to stray from character. That’s when he threw Zack Wheeler’s red cap into the ring for consideration as the best pitcher in the National League.
“Hopefully he’s in the conversation for the Cy Young,” Thomson said well before the Phillies and Wheeler went out and wasted the Cardinals, 12-1. “His numbers are that good.”
Wheeler took a 9-6 record and a 3.70 ERA into his Saturday start, then uncorked his fourth double-figure strikeout game of the season and second since July 28. He pitched into the eighth and allowed three hits and one earned run, struck out 10 and walked none.
In the second, he surrendered a home run to left to Luken Baker, the first of his career.
While that left him somewhere south of legendary, it was worthy of award consideration in the era of the pitch count. Still, he was ranked 11th in the NL in ERA, was tied for 18th in wins and was in a sixth-place tie with 167 strikeouts.
So…
“I think he’s executing his pitches,” Thomson said. “I think he has located his fastball, which is huge. He’s really getting a lot of sink on his two-seamer, which gets soft contact and a lot of chopped balls and quick outs.”
A surface glance at the betting odds suggests a Weeler Cy Young Award remains a longshot at around 40-to-1. The right-hander is below favorite Zac Gallen (Arizona), Blake Snell (San Diego), Spencer Strider (Atlanta), Logan Webb (San Francisco), Justin Steele (Chicago) and Corbin Burnes (Milwaukee) on most boards.
But it’s (relatively) early and Wheeler had gone at least six innings in each of his previous eight starts.
“In his last start his velocity was even higher than it’s been over the course of the year at 97, 98,” Thomson said. “I don’t know if they have different guns for it, but it was encouraging.”
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Bryce Harper was relegated to designated hitter for a fifth consecutive game as the Phillies continue to be careful with his sore back. While careful not to make a formal declaration, Thomson has admitted that the repetitive bending that it takes a first baseman to be prepared for every pitch could be a contributing factor.
Harper, who delivered RBI singles in the second and fifth, continues to recommend calm.
“It’s progressing well,” he said. “I just didn’t want to take a backward step and risk not being able to play next week. But it is getting better.”
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With Harper unavailable for defense, Jake Cave started at first against right-hander Dakota Hudson. Though Cave was hitting .239, he has kept the confidence of Thomson.
An alternative would have been to swing Alec Bohm to first and use Edmundo Sosa at third.
“Jake has been swinging the bat pretty good,” the manager said. “And he has played a really good first base for a guy who’s never played there before. So I have a lot of confidence in him.”
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While extremely early for a decision, Thomson will keep Cristopher Sanchez under consideration as a starter in any four-man postseason pitching rotation. The left-hander has lasted at least six innings in his last three starts and has shaved his ERA to 3.33.
“Well, he is certainly pitching well,” Thomson said. “Whether he is in the postseason rotation, we will have to wait and see. I mean, a lot of things can happen before then. But he is a big part of this pitching staff right now.
“He has matured so much over the last two years. He understands that he can throw strikes and that he can change speeds to get out of innings with some soft contact. He’s really gotten a lot better.”
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NOTES >> Ranger Suarez threw some in the outfield Saturday and continues to heal from the hamstring injury that has left him unavailable since Aug. 16. “We’re right on target,” Thomson said. “He may throw some BP Monday and well see how he feels.” … Aaron Nola (11-8, 4.49) and Cardinals left-hander Drew Rom (0-1, 14.73) will pitch Sunday at 1:35.
Source: Berkshire mont
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