Like many Phillies fans, I was eager to see ace Zack Wheeler take the mound as the potential starter in next Tuesday’s All-Star Game, but that possibility is now off the table.
Wheeler, who entered Saturday’s contest against the San Diego Padres with a stellar 9-3 record, a 2.17 ERA, 148 strikeouts, and a 0.84 WHIP, is certainly deserving of the honor on stats alone. However, the Georgia native chose to withdraw from the roster and will not take part in Tuesday’s festivities
Wheeler’s focus, which deserves plenty of credit, remains squarely on the Phillies and a return to Red October. “I’d just rather get myself ready to go for the second half,” he noted before Friday’s game.
“He came to me the other day and he basically said that he wanted to make sure his body was in good shape coming out of the break and carry on through the rest of the year,” said manager Rob Thomson. “He wants to do what’s right by the club…He’s being smart.”
Wheeler faced the Padres on Saturday in his final start before the All-Star break.
As it stands, Kyle Schwarber will be the Phillies’ lone representative at Tuesday’s All-Star Game. Entering Saturday’s game, Schwarber was batting .254 with 30 home runs, 69 RBIs, and a .944 OPS.
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