Zack Wheeler and Justin Wrobleski headline a star-studded pitching matchup Tuesday when the Philadelphia Phillies continue their home series with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Wheeler (10-1, 2.13 ERA) has enjoyed a terrific season despite getting a late start to it due to a blood clot in his shoulder. He blanked the Detroit Tigers over six innings in his most recent outing, allowing just two hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts on July 12.
In fact, the veteran right-hander has punched out double-digit batters in all three of his starts this month, totaling 34 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings.
This is Wheeler’s first start of the second half. He initially was left off the National League All-Star team and then turned down a spot as a replacement on the squad.
“They disrespected me, so I’m not going to participate,” Wheeler said at the time. “I don’t need a pity party. I don’t need somebody saying, ‘He’s had major surgery. Look at him now.’ I don’t need that.”
Across the diamond, Wrobleski (10-2, 2.69) gladly accepted a spot on the NL squad after scuffling for most of his first two MLB seasons. The lefty, who turned 26 last week, pitched two innings in the Midsummer Classic — which took place in Philadelphia — and allowed a long home run to Miguel Vargas but also struck out five.
“You want to be an All-Star,” Wrobleski said earlier this month. “It’s something that, regardless of the year, whenever, it’s always a big deal.”
In his most recent start, Wrobleski limited the Colorado Rockies to one run over seven innings on July 7. That was the same line that he posted in his only career start against the Phillies, on May 29 of this season.
Wheeler, meanwhile, is 3-3 with a 4.57 ERA in eight career starts against the Dodgers.
Philadelphia opened the series with a 10-7 victory on Monday behind Trea Turner’s two homers and five RBIs. He also committed an error and made two other misplays at shortstop, contributing to multiple rallies by Los Angeles.
“Trea’s our guy,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said. “Trea works every day, so it’s not like he’s out there and doesn’t care about defense. … He’s working every day, so we ride with Trea.”
Brandon Marsh, Bryce Harper and Derek Hill also homered for the Phillies.
Mookie Betts launched a pair of home runs for the Dodgers as part of a four-hit showing in a losing effort.
“That was certainly a nice silver lining for tonight,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. “All of his at-bats were really good. … I just saw that fire tonight. The good conviction in the swings.”
Betts had gone 0-for-14 in his previous four games and had not recorded a multi-hit effort since July 2.
“I just think that he’s better than what he’s showing,” Roberts said. “Do I have the expectations of when he was considerably younger, playing the outfield? No, I don’t. I think that’s an unfair expectation. I have a hard time really answering what my expectation is. I just know that he helps us win baseball games.”
–Field Level Media
