\n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","thumbnail_url":null,"type":"oembed","width":550,"contentType":"rich"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Wheeler has responded to his velocity boost by throwing more fastballs, especially earlier in the count. His fastball usage has jumped 4.1% in the playoffs the past two seasons to 64.7%. More notably, Wheeler is throwing first-pitch fastballs 73% of the time in the playoffs compared to 67.1% in the regular season. Because he's throwing harder fastballs more often on the first pitch for strikes, he's seen his first-pitch strike rate jump from 63.9% in the regular season to 70.1% in the playoffs, including a whopping 73.9% rate in this year's postseason.\n\nThat's helped put Wheeler in a better position to do damage in optimal counts for a pitcher. When he's been ahead in the count in the postseason, opposing hitters have a measly .127/.136/.167 line against him. When Wheeler has gotten to two strikes, he's generated most of his strikeouts on his curveball (21), four-seamer (20) and a new sweeper (8) that he folded in prior to this season.","type":"text"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"2022-10-19T03:03:47.805Z","preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\"preferredPlaybacks\":\"mp4AvcPlayback\"})":"https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2022/2022-10/18/5393e8ba-0d9a7273-04b968d6-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4","type":"video","description":"Zack Wheeler tosses seven scoreless innings, punching out eight batters in his dominant start against the Padres in Game 1 of the NLCS","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:01:54","slug":"wheeler-s-superb-game-1-outing","tags":[{"__typename":"GameTag"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-143","title":"Philadelphia Phillies","team":{"__ref":"Team:143"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-554430","title":"Zack Wheeler","person":{"__ref":"Person:554430"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"star-of-the-game","title":"Star of the Game","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"in-game-highlight","title":"in-game highlight","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"highlight","title":"highlight","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"highlight-reel-starting-pitching","title":"highlight reel starting pitching","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"pitching","title":"pitching","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"postseason","title":"postseason","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"eclat-feed","title":"Eclat feed","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"international-feed","title":"International Partner feed","type":"taxonomy"}],"thumbnail":{"__typename":"Thumbnail","templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/j29xcauxart0amfcctmo"},"title":"Wheeler's superb Game 1 outing","relativeSiteUrl":"/video/wheeler-s-superb-game-1-outing"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"**Sweeping his way to a higher level**\n\nA differentiating factor for the best athletes is their ability to constantly find new ways to improve. In the case of Wheeler -- who didn't exactly need to change that much -- he joined the sweeper craze by adding his own version in Spring Training this year.\n\n\"The sweeper is a pitch that Wheeler started to throw in Spring Training, hoping to give hitters something else to consider as they tried to beat him,\" MLB.com Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki wrote after Wheeler's Game 1 Wild Card Series outing against the Marlins.\n\nDespite the spectacular regular-season results with the pitch (39.2% whiff rate and .360 SLG), Wheeler's sweeper was his fourth-most utilized pitch at 12.2%. That's changed in his first two playoff outings this year, which has seen the usage jump to 21.6%. That has been Wheeler's second-most utilized pitch outside of his four-seamer. It was clear that the pitch itself and Wheeler's usage of it was different after his Wild Card Series start, where he struck out a career-high five batters on the sweeper.","type":"text"},{"__typename":"OEmbed","html":"
\n\n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","thumbnail_url":null,"type":"oembed","width":550,"contentType":"rich"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"“That was the best the sweeper’s been,” Wheeler said after his Game 1 against the Marlins.\n\nThe metrics back that up. Wheeler has seemingly found the optimal combination of velocity, spin and horizontal movement on the pitch in the playoffs. He's throwing it about a half-mph slower (83.8) in the postseason but is getting an additional 1.7 inches of horizontal break on the pitch. At 15.3 inches of break, it is moving almost the entire distance of the width of home plate (17 inches). Hitters have struck out eight times in 18 plate appearances ending on the sweeper, with Wheeler's only real mistake coming on Travis d'Arnaud's home run in his Game 1 NL Division Series start.","type":"text"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"2023-10-17T00:07:00Z","preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\"preferredPlaybacks\":\"mp4AvcPlayback\"})":"https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/90df7e55-3eb2-4650-9e05-f2f0c14f2e50.mp4","type":"video","description":"The data behind Zack Wheeler's outing","displayAsVideoGif":true,"duration":"00:00:23","slug":"zack-wheeler-s-outing-against-the-d-backs-x5023","tags":[{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"data-visualization","title":"data visualization","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-554430","title":"Zack Wheeler","person":{"__ref":"Person:554430"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"GameTag"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-143","title":"Philadelphia Phillies","team":{"__ref":"Team:143"},"type":"team"}],"thumbnail":{"__typename":"Thumbnail","templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/ghfyytcwpne6ksvisonu"},"title":"Zack Wheeler's outing against the D-backs","relativeSiteUrl":"/video/zack-wheeler-s-outing-against-the-d-backs-x5023"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"With a nastier sweeper at his disposal, Wheeler has been an even better version of his 2022 postseason self. It's not just the two different fastballs that consistently clock in at 97-plus mph and land for strikes. Nor is it just the already-strong breaking balls (slider and curveball) that he's been able to use to put hitters away. Now Wheeler is relying heavily on a breaking ball that can nearly cover the width of home plate.","type":"text"},{"__typename":"OEmbed","html":"
Zack Wheeler, Slider vs. Sweeper
Slider: 92 mph, 3" of horizontal break Sweeper: 84 mph, 16" of horizontal break
\n\n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","thumbnail_url":null,"type":"oembed","width":550,"contentType":"rich"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Some pitchers have a knack for taking their game to the next level when October hits. It's become abundantly clear that Wheeler fits that criteria. After helping lead the Phillies to within two games of a World Series title last year, he's doing his best to make that happen again this year -- and then some.\n\nIf Wheeler keeps this up, the Phillies might be hoisting their first World Series trophy since 2008.","type":"text"}],"relativeSiteUrl":"/news/zack-wheeler-s-dominant-postseason-success","contentType":"news","subHeadline":null,"summary":"In case you haven't noticed, the Phillies have sort of figured out playoff baseball in the past few seasons.\nAfter winning 87 regular-season games in 2022, they made a surprise World Series appearance before losing in six games against the Astros. This season, there were no surprises or doubts about","tagline({\"formatString\":\"none\"})":null,"tags":[{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"storytype-article","title":"Article","type":"article"},{"__typename":"ContributorTag","slug":"brent-maguire","title":"Brent Maguire","type":"contributor"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-554430","title":"Zack Wheeler","person":{"__ref":"Person:554430"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-143","title":"Philadelphia Phillies","team":{"__ref":"Team:143"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"player-tracking","title":"Statcast","type":"taxonomy"}],"type":"story","thumbnail":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/utkozkcrq5xnzlu8si2c","title":"Zack Wheeler's dominant postseason success"},"getHeaderFromForgePath({\"contentSource\":\"MLB\",\"headerPath\":\"/_navs/header/phi/global-nav\",\"paletteKey\":\"t143-base-palette\",\"propertiesKey\":\"t143-global-properties\"})":{"__typename":"Header","navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"mobile:true;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Tickets","linkUrl":"/tickets","placement":"mobile","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Season Ticket Plans","linkUrl":"/tickets/season-tickets","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Season Ticket Deposits","linkUrl":"/tickets/season-tickets/deposits","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1730087940;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Flash Sale","linkUrl":"/tickets/single-game-tickets/flash-sale","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1710820740;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Hunt for Red October Ticket Deal","linkUrl":"/tickets/single-game-tickets/ticket-deal","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1726372740;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Opening Day Three Game Pack","linkUrl":"/tickets/packs/three-game-packs","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Six & Three Game Ticket Packs","linkUrl":"/tickets/packs/six-game-packs","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1705985940;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Single Game Tickets","linkUrl":"/tickets/single-game-tickets","linkTarget":"","visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"April Ballpark Pass","linkUrl":"/tickets/april-ballpark-pass","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1711598340;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Promotions and Giveaways","linkUrl":"/tickets/promotions","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Theme Nights","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Spring Training Tickets","linkUrl":"/tickets/spring-training","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Ballpark Pass Options","linkUrl":"/tickets/ballpark-pass","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Postseason Push Plan","linkUrl":"/tickets/postseason-push-plan","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1662523140;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Group Tickets","linkUrl":"/tickets/group-tickets","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Family Packs","linkUrl":"/tickets/family-packs","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Authentic Fan Ticket Package","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials/authentic-fan","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Student Steal","linkUrl":"/tickets/student-steal-form","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Military & First Responders Offer","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials/military","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"appears:1707847260;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Seating and Pricing","linkUrl":"/tickets/pricing","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Premium Seating","linkUrl":"/tickets/premium","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Suites & Hospitality","linkUrl":"/tickets/premium/suites","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Group Party Areas","linkUrl":"/tickets/group-tickets/party-areas","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Suite Flash Sale","linkUrl":"/tickets/premium/suites-and-decks/flash-sale","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1708725540;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"College Student Discount","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials/college-student-discount","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies #CollegeSeries","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials/college-series","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Parking Passes","linkUrl":"/tickets/parking","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Ticket Technology","linkUrl":"/tickets/technology","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"My Phillies Tickets Guide","linkUrl":"/tickets/my-phillies-tickets-guide","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Gift Cards","linkUrl":"/tickets/gift-cards","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Mobile Ticketing","linkUrl":"/tickets/mobile","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"My Phillies Tickets","linkUrl":"https://mlb.tickets.com/?orgid=37988&agency=PHLM_MYTIXX","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Holiday Gift Options","linkUrl":"/tickets/holiday-gifts","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Concerts","linkUrl":"/tickets/concerts","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Commemorative Tickets","linkUrl":"/tickets/commemorative-tickets","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"SeatGeek","linkUrl":"https://seatgeek.com/philadelphia-phillies-tickets?aid=15984&pid=integration&rid=1&utm_medium=partnership&utm_source=phillies_sponsorship&utm_campaign=integration","linkTarget":"_blank","visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Text For Ticket Deals","linkUrl":"/tickets/text-alerts","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Postseason Ticket Information","linkUrl":"/tickets/postseason","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Postseason Ticket Purchase Opportunity","linkUrl":"/tickets/postseason/ticket-opportunity","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1728791940;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Postseason Parking Passes","linkUrl":"/tickets/postseason/parking","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Fan Values","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials/fan-values","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"appears:1662242400;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Behind the Diamond","linkUrl":"/tickets/events/behind-the-diamond","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Yoga on the Field","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials/yoga","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2023 Ticket Information","linkUrl":"/tickets/information","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Single Game Pricing","linkUrl":"/tickets/pricing","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"expires:1667793540;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Postseason","linkUrl":"/tickets/postseason?partnerId=club-top-nav","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Postseason Postponed Game information","linkUrl":"/schedule/postponement","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"mobile:true;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule","placement":"mobile","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Spring Training Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Regular Season Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule/2025-03","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Sortable Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule/2025-02/list","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Broadcast Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule/2024/fullseason","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Downloadable Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule/downloadable-schedule","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Printable Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule/printable-schedule","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Postponed Game Information","linkUrl":"/schedule/postponement","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Tryout Camps","linkUrl":"/schedule/tryout-camps","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies on the air","linkUrl":"/schedule/on-air","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Events","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/events","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"2024 Postseason Schedule","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/postseason","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"FAQs for MLB on Peacock","linkUrl":"/schedule/peacock-faqs","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1682283540;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"FAQs for MLB on Apple TV+","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/help-center/subscription-access-apple-tv-plus-gotw","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"appears:1694782800;expires:1694827800;"}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"mobile:true;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Scores","linkUrl":"/scores","placement":"mobile","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"mobile:true;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Stats","linkUrl":"/stats","placement":"mobile","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Team Stats","linkUrl":"/stats/team","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Top Prospect Stats","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/prospects/stats?teamId=143","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Baseball Savant","linkUrl":"https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/team/143","linkTarget":"_blank","visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Affiliate Stats","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/prospects/stats/affiliates?teamId=143","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires: 1572884168;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Top Rookies Tracker","linkUrl":"/stats/national-league?playerPool=ROOKIES","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Roster","linkUrl":"/roster","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"40-Man Roster","linkUrl":"/roster/40-man","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Depth Chart","linkUrl":"/roster/depth-chart","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Non-Roster Invitees","linkUrl":"/roster/nri","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Coaches","linkUrl":"/roster/coaches","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Top 30 Prospects","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/prospects/phillies/","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Transactions","linkUrl":"/roster/transactions","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Injury Updates","linkUrl":"/news/topic/phillies-injury-report","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Draft Results","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/draft/tracker/all/team/phillies","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Front Office","linkUrl":"/team/front-office","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Broadcasters","linkUrl":"/team/broadcasters","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Starting Lineups","linkUrl":"/roster/starting-lineups","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"All-time Roster","linkUrl":"http://mlb.mlb.com/phi/history/players.jsp","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Alumni","linkUrl":"/history/phillies-alumni","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Player Search","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/players","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Ballgirls","linkUrl":"/community/phillies-family/ballgirls","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Minor League Affiliates","linkUrl":"https://www.milb.com/about/teams/by-affiliate#phillies","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Minor League Boxscores","linkUrl":"https://www.milb.com/scores/all/all/phillies","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Video","linkUrl":"/video","placement":null,"visible":"true","subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Features","linkUrl":"/video/topic/phillies-features","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Reviews","linkUrl":"/video/topic/phillies-reviews","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Manager Postgame","linkUrl":"/video/topic/phillies-manager-postgame","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Curtain Calls","linkUrl":"/video/topic/phillies-curtain-calls","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Cut4","linkUrl":"/video/topic/phillies-cut4","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Most Popular","linkUrl":"/video/topic/t143-default-vtp","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Game Recap","linkUrl":"/video/topic/phillies-game-recap","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Behind the Pinstripes","linkUrl":"/video/topic/behind-the-pinstripes","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Podcasts","linkUrl":"/fans/podcasts","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Network","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/network","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"News","linkUrl":"/news","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Official Releases","linkUrl":"/news/topic/phillies-press-releases","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Probable Pitchers","linkUrl":"/roster/probable-pitchers","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"appears:1677196800;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Pipeline","linkUrl":"/news/topic/phillies-pipeline-coverage","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Photo Stream","linkUrl":"/team/photos","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"RSS News Feed","linkUrl":"/feeds/news/rss.xml","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies History","linkUrl":"/history","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies History Feature Stories","linkUrl":"/news/topic/phillies-history-trivia","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB News","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/news","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":"gameday","linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Citizens Bank Park","linkUrl":"/ballpark","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Know Before You Go","linkUrl":"/ballpark/information/health-safety-protocols","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Special Events","linkUrl":"/ballpark/events","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Harry The Ks","linkUrl":"/ballpark/harry-the-ks","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Ballpark Tours","linkUrl":"/ballpark/tours","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Ballpark Information","linkUrl":"/ballpark/information","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Getting to the Ballpark","linkUrl":"/ballpark/transportation","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"The Yard","linkUrl":"/ballpark/the-yard","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Pass and Stow","linkUrl":"/ballpark/pass-and-stow","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Concessions","linkUrl":"/ballpark/information/concessions","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Seating Map","linkUrl":"/tickets/seating-map","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Prepaid Parking Passes","linkUrl":"/ballpark/transportation/parking#buy-parking","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"New Era Phillies Team Store","linkUrl":"/ballpark/new-era-phillies-team-store","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Authentics","linkUrl":"/ballpark/phillies-authentics","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Walk-Up Music Playlist","linkUrl":"/ballpark/music","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"What's New","linkUrl":"/news/featured/phillies-massive-videoboard-new-food-and-gear-for-2023-season-unveiled","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Go-Ahead Entry","linkUrl":"/ballpark/information/go-ahead-entry","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":"globe","linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Community","linkUrl":"/community","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phantastic Auction","linkUrl":"https://phillies.auctions.mlb.com/iSynApp/allAuction.action?sid=1102427&promoGroupList%5b0%5d.strValue1=PHANTASTIC&rc=25","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1684544460;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Charities 5K","linkUrl":"/community/five-k","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Charities, Inc.","linkUrl":"/community/phillies-charities","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phans Feeding Families Virtual Food Drive","linkUrl":"/tickets/specials/phans-feeding-families/virtual-food-drive","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Phestival","linkUrl":"/community/phestival","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Salute the Military","linkUrl":"/community/salute-the-military","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Family","linkUrl":"/community/phillies-family","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Red Goes Green","linkUrl":"/community/red-goes-green","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Home Runs for Trees Contest","linkUrl":"/community/red-goes-green/home-runs-for-trees/contest","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1727730000;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Youth Baseball & Softball Development Programs","linkUrl":"/community/youth-baseball-softball","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Educational Programs","linkUrl":"/community/educational-programs","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Charities 50/50 Drawing","linkUrl":"/community/phillies-charities/drawing","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Strike Out The Stigma","linkUrl":"/community/educational-programs/strike-out-the-stigma","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"All-Star Teachers Contest","linkUrl":"/community/all-star-teachers-contest","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"All-Star Students Contest","linkUrl":"/community/all-star-students-contest","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"PhanaVision Messages","linkUrl":"/community/phillies-charities/phanavision-messages","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1595995200;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Together","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/mlb-together","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Baseball Assistance Team","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/baseball-assistance-team","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Play Ball","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/play-ball","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/rbi","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Stand Up To Cancer","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/mlb-together/stand-up-to-cancer","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Military Appreciation","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/mlb-together/military-appreciation","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Spring Training","linkUrl":"/spring-training","placement":null,"visible":"true","subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Spring Training Schedule","linkUrl":"/schedule","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Parking Information","linkUrl":"/spring-training/parking","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Travel Packages","linkUrl":"/tickets/spring-training/travel","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":""},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"BayCare Ballpark","linkUrl":"/spring-training/ballpark","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Know Before You Go","linkUrl":"/spring-training/health-safety-protocols","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"What's New","linkUrl":"/spring-training/ballpark/whats-new","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":null,"icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Fans","linkUrl":"/fans","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Vote Phillies","linkUrl":"/fans/all-star-ballot-offers","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"appears:1717603260;expires:1720022400;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies City Connect","linkUrl":"/fans/city-connect","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Social Media Clubhouse","linkUrl":"/social","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Fan Clubs","linkUrl":"/fans/fan-clubs","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Fightin' Phils Fan Club","linkUrl":"/fans/fightin-phils-fan-club","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Events and Happenings","linkUrl":"/fans/events-and-happenings","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Inside Pitch Newsletter","linkUrl":"/fans/newsletters","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Kids","linkUrl":"/fans/kids","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Kids Activities","linkUrl":"/fans/kids/activities","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Experiences and Merchandise","linkUrl":"/fans/experiences-and-merchandise","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phanatic Central","linkUrl":"/fans/phillie-phanatic","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Vacations","linkUrl":"/fans/phillies-vacations","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Road Trips","linkUrl":"/fans/phillies-vacations/road-trips","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Vacation in Paradise","linkUrl":"/fans/phillies-vacations/paradise","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phantasy Camp","linkUrl":"/fans/experiences-and-merchandise/phantasy-camp","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Gift Guide","linkUrl":"/fans/gift-guide","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Beyond the Bell Blog","linkUrl":"https://beyondthebell.mlblogs.com/","linkTarget":"_blank","visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Insider Blog","linkUrl":"https://philliesinsider.mlblogs.com/","linkTarget":"_blank","visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"National League Championship Ring Details","linkUrl":"/fans/2022-nlc-ring-details","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Craft Beer Fest","linkUrl":"https://www.ballparkfestival.com/philadelphia/","linkTarget":"_blank","visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"#PhilliesHolidays Fan Events","linkUrl":"/fans/events-and-happenings/holidays","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"expires:1734735600;"},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Pumpkin Stencils","linkUrl":"/fans/pumpkin-stencils","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Yearbook","linkUrl":"/fans/publications/yearbook/2020","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Ring the Ballot","linkUrl":"/fans/lets-vote","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"appears:1717603260;expires:1720022400;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Vote","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/all-star/ballot?affiliateId=asb-topnav-club-2024","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Standings","linkUrl":"/standings","placement":null,"visible":"true","subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Apps","linkUrl":"/apps","placement":null,"visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB","linkUrl":"/apps/mlb-app","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Rally","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/apps/rally","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Beat the Streak","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/apps/beat-the-streak","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Ballpark","linkUrl":"/apps/ballpark","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Play","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/play","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MiLB","linkUrl":"https://www.milb.com/about/milb-app","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Home Run Derby","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/apps/home-run-derby","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB FAQs","linkUrl":"/apps/mlb-app/faq-apple","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Ballpark FAQs","linkUrl":"/apps/ballpark/frequently-asked-questions","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Play FAQs","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/help/play/frequently-asked-questions","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Rally FAQs","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/apps/rally/faq-apple","linkTarget":null,"visible":"false","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"align:right;","icon":"watch","linkTarget":null,"linkText":"MLB.TV","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/tv?&affiliateId=clubMENU","placement":"right","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Buy MLB.TV Offseason Package","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/subscribe?&affiliateId=clubMENU","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Watch & Listen","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games?&affiliateId=clubMENU","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Link Account","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/partners?&affiliateId=clubMENU","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Help Center","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/help-center?&affiliateId=clubMENU","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"align:right;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Shop","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/philadelphia-phillies/t-36785512+z-9993788-1469888814?_s=bm-mlbcom-phi","placement":"right","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Jerseys","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/philadelphia-phillies/jerseys/t-36455534+d-0138555614+z-99-193630325?_s=bm-mlbcom-phi","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Caps","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/philadelphia-phillies/caps/t-36019912+d-1205778892+z-95-1286397739?_s=bm-mlbcom-phi","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Men's","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/philadelphia-phillies/men/t-47564423+ga-23+z-82628-4017651962?_s=bm-mlbcom-phi","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Women's","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/philadelphia-phillies/women/t-25125534+ga-46+z-952737-3559527880?_s=bm-mlbcom-phi","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Kids","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/philadelphia-phillies/kids/t-14787756+ga-81+z-976435-3974263430?_s=bm-mlbcom-phi","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Big & Tall","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/philadelphia-phillies/big-and-tall/t-36895512+es-91+z-950038-690245484?_s=bm-mlbcom-phi","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Trading Cards","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/trading-cards/d-4507487451+z-952513-2008381280?_s=bm-mlb.com-ShopButton-2024-TradingCards-phl","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Collectibles & Memorabilia","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/philadelphia-phillies/collectibles-and-memorabilia/t-47125590+d-3449220005+z-8-2109204733?_s=bm-mlbcom-phi","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Home & Office","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/philadelphia-phillies/home-and-office/t-14782201+d-8961999088+z-97-4098165300?_s=bm-mlbcom-phi","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Clearance","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/philadelphia-phillies/t-36785512+z-9993788-1469888814?os=1&_s=bm-mlbcom-phi","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"European Shop","linkUrl":"http://www.mlbshopeurope.com/stores/mlb/en/c/shop-by-team/national-league/philadelphia-phillies?portal=NWSFIJN1&CMP=PSC-NWSFIJN1","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB.com Gift Certificates","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/gift-cards/x-462351+z-94899005-3509039474?_s=bm-mlbcom-phi","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Authentic Shop","linkUrl":"https://www.mlbshop.com/philadelphia-phillies/authentication-program/t-36012223+c-3477579723+z-95-3696140130","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Phillies Auctions - Bid or Buy","linkUrl":"https://phillies.auctions.mlb.com/?_gl=1*153jogc*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE2ODEzMTA3NTguQ2p3S0NBandyZG1oQmhCQkVpd0E0SHg1Z3o2dl9TZW54SkRtTFl4REpsRVBhTHRvSmlQUjFHZTY4SGpVWmYtU0lrTWdURmdDUU9kMmVSb0NnTk1RQXZEX0J3RQ..*_gcl_dc*R0NMLjE2ODEzMTA3NTguQ2p3S0NBandyZG1oQmhCQkVpd0E0SHg1Z3o2dl9TZW54SkRtTFl4REpsRVBhTHRvSmlQUjFHZTY4SGpVWmYtU0lrTWdURmdDUU9kMmVSb0NnTk1RQXZEX0J3RQ..&utm_source=Nav+Auction+Tray+PHI&utm_medium=Club.com+Shop+Nav&utm_campaign=Club.com+permanent+Navigation","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Auctions - Bid or Buy","linkUrl":"https://auctions.mlb.com/iSynApp/showHomePage.action?sid=1101001&isynsharedsession=mki8i1dARcxDt3WwReTi6kJOREHftyZJNK-Xg3m10ZpEdaSACl02r4aCDzYhNvUm&utm_source=Nav+Auction+Tray+PHI&utm_medium=Club.com+Shop+Nav+MLB&utm_campaign=Club.com+permanent+Navigation","linkTarget":null,"visible":"true","icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null},{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"MLB Authentication","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/official-information/authentication","linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":null}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"module:teammodule;align:right;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Teams","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/team","placement":"right","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[{"__typename":"NavItem","placement":null,"linkText":"Team Module","linkUrl":null,"linkTarget":null,"visible":null,"icon":null,"tooltip":null,"customPropertiesString":"module:teammodule;"}]}]},{"__typename":"NavItem","customPropertiesString":"align:right;","icon":null,"linkTarget":null,"linkText":"Español","linkUrl":"https://www.mlb.com/es/phillies","placement":"right","visible":null,"subNav":[{"__typename":"SubnavColumn","title":null,"navigation":[]}]}],"cfPalette":{"__typename":"CF_Palette","headerMastheadBackgroundColor":"#020731","headerMastheadTextColor":"#ffffff","headerNavigationBackgroundColor":"#c20c31","headerNavigationBorderColor":"#ffffff","headerNavigationTextColorHover":"#333333","headerNavigationTextColor":"#ffffff"},"cfWebProperties":{"__typename":"CF_WebProperties","urlLogo":{"__typename":"CF_Asset","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/iiozhi00a8lc/t143_url_logophillies_url_svg/0b63e1b2898e7bd8c43d3e2bc2963cc3/phi_url_2023.svg"},"headerMastheadTagline":{"__typename":"CF_Asset","url":"//images.ctfassets.net/iiozhi00a8lc/4GmuhcaCrJwVun39GS0rAJ/f141ae73b2c727037a8ec9641e83c73e/phi_tagline_2024_white.svg"},"headerPrimaryLogo":{"__typename":"CF_Asset","url":null,"description":null},"headerMastheadSponsorImage":{"__typename":"CF_Asset","url":null,"description":null},"headerMastheadTaglineContainerWidth":"692px","headerMastheadTaglineContainerHeight":"40px"}},"getTeamsBySportId({\"ids\":[1]})":[{"__ref":"Team:133"},{"__ref":"Team:134"},{"__ref":"Team:135"},{"__ref":"Team:136"},{"__ref":"Team:137"},{"__ref":"Team:138"},{"__ref":"Team:139"},{"__ref":"Team:140"},{"__ref":"Team:141"},{"__ref":"Team:142"},{"__ref":"Team:143"},{"__ref":"Team:144"},{"__ref":"Team:145"},{"__ref":"Team:146"},{"__ref":"Team:147"},{"__ref":"Team:158"},{"__ref":"Team:108"},{"__ref":"Team:109"},{"__ref":"Team:110"},{"__ref":"Team:111"},{"__ref":"Team:112"},{"__ref":"Team:113"},{"__ref":"Team:114"},{"__ref":"Team:115"},{"__ref":"Team:116"},{"__ref":"Team:117"},{"__ref":"Team:118"},{"__ref":"Team:119"},{"__ref":"Team:120"},{"__ref":"Team:121"}]},"Team:143":{"__typename":"Team","id":143,"division":{"__ref":"Division:204"},"name":"Philadelphia Phillies","shortName":"Philadelphia","teamName":"Phillies"},"Person:554430":{"__typename":"Person","id":554430},"Division:200":{"__typename":"Division","id":"200"},"Team:133":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:200"},"id":133,"name":"Athletics","shortName":"Athletics","teamName":"Athletics"},"Division:205":{"__typename":"Division","id":"205"},"Team:134":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:205"},"id":134,"name":"Pittsburgh Pirates","shortName":"Pittsburgh","teamName":"Pirates"},"Division:203":{"__typename":"Division","id":"203"},"Team:135":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:203"},"id":135,"name":"San Diego Padres","shortName":"San Diego","teamName":"Padres"},"Team:136":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:200"},"id":136,"name":"Seattle Mariners","shortName":"Seattle","teamName":"Mariners"},"Team:137":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:203"},"id":137,"name":"San Francisco Giants","shortName":"San Francisco","teamName":"Giants"},"Team:138":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:205"},"id":138,"name":"St. Louis Cardinals","shortName":"St. Louis","teamName":"Cardinals"},"Division:201":{"__typename":"Division","id":"201"},"Team:139":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:201"},"id":139,"name":"Tampa Bay Rays","shortName":"Tampa Bay","teamName":"Rays"},"Team:140":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:200"},"id":140,"name":"Texas Rangers","shortName":"Texas","teamName":"Rangers"},"Team:141":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:201"},"id":141,"name":"Toronto Blue Jays","shortName":"Toronto","teamName":"Blue Jays"},"Division:202":{"__typename":"Division","id":"202"},"Team:142":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:202"},"id":142,"name":"Minnesota Twins","shortName":"Minnesota","teamName":"Twins"},"Division:204":{"__typename":"Division","id":"204"},"Team:144":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:204"},"id":144,"name":"Atlanta Braves","shortName":"Atlanta","teamName":"Braves"},"Team:145":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:202"},"id":145,"name":"Chicago White Sox","shortName":"Chi White Sox","teamName":"White Sox"},"Team:146":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:204"},"id":146,"name":"Miami Marlins","shortName":"Miami","teamName":"Marlins"},"Team:147":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:201"},"id":147,"name":"New York Yankees","shortName":"NY Yankees","teamName":"Yankees"},"Team:158":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:205"},"id":158,"name":"Milwaukee Brewers","shortName":"Milwaukee","teamName":"Brewers"},"Team:108":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:200"},"id":108,"name":"Los Angeles Angels","shortName":"LA Angels","teamName":"Angels"},"Team:109":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:203"},"id":109,"name":"Arizona Diamondbacks","shortName":"Arizona","teamName":"D-backs"},"Team:110":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:201"},"id":110,"name":"Baltimore Orioles","shortName":"Baltimore","teamName":"Orioles"},"Team:111":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:201"},"id":111,"name":"Boston Red Sox","shortName":"Boston","teamName":"Red Sox"},"Team:112":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:205"},"id":112,"name":"Chicago Cubs","shortName":"Chi Cubs","teamName":"Cubs"},"Team:113":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:205"},"id":113,"name":"Cincinnati Reds","shortName":"Cincinnati","teamName":"Reds"},"Team:114":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:202"},"id":114,"name":"Cleveland Guardians","shortName":"Cleveland","teamName":"Guardians"},"Team:115":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:203"},"id":115,"name":"Colorado Rockies","shortName":"Colorado","teamName":"Rockies"},"Team:116":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:202"},"id":116,"name":"Detroit Tigers","shortName":"Detroit","teamName":"Tigers"},"Team:117":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:200"},"id":117,"name":"Houston Astros","shortName":"Houston","teamName":"Astros"},"Team:118":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:202"},"id":118,"name":"Kansas City Royals","shortName":"Kansas City","teamName":"Royals"},"Team:119":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:203"},"id":119,"name":"Los Angeles Dodgers","shortName":"LA Dodgers","teamName":"Dodgers"},"Team:120":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:204"},"id":120,"name":"Washington Nationals","shortName":"Washington","teamName":"Nationals"},"Team:121":{"__typename":"Team","division":{"__ref":"Division:204"},"id":121,"name":"New York Mets","shortName":"NY Mets","teamName":"Mets"}}}
window.adobeAnalytics = {"reportingSuiteId":"mlbglobal08,mlbphillies","linkInternalFilters":"philadelphia,phillies"}
window.globalState = {"tracking_title":"Philadelphia Phillies","lang":"en"}
window.appId = ''
/*-->*/
How Zack Wheeler has ascended to postseason legend
How Zack Wheeler has ascended to postseason legend
In case you haven't noticed, the Phillies have sort of figured out playoff baseball in the past few seasons.
After winning 87 regular-season games in 2022, they made a surprise World Series appearance before losing in six games against the Astros. This season, there were no surprises or doubts about the 90-win Phillies, who have dominated their way to the cusp of their second straight World Series appearance.
Outside of Bryce Harper -- who has produced consecutive all-time great postseasons -- no Phillies player has carried this group as much as Zack Wheeler. The 33-year-old has blossomed into one of baseball's best pitchers since coming to the Phils from the Mets as a free agent following the 2019 season.
Impressive as Wheeler has been in the regular season, it's been his playoff dominance the past two seasons that has elevated his status to an even higher level and been a key reason for Philadelphia's success. After posting a 2.78 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings in last year's postseason, he's leveled up in three playoff games this year with a 2.37 ERA in 19 innings -- as well as a ridiculous 26-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
As the Phillies seek yet another World Series appearance, it's worth looking into what has made Wheeler an invaluable ace and one of the best pitchers in postseason history.
Going from regular-season ace to playoff stud
After pitching for the Mets from 2013-19 -- missing the 2015-16 seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery -- Wheeler signed a five-year, $118 million deal as a free agent with the Phillies in December 2019. Since that point, Wheeler has firmly established himself as one of the top aces in the sport.
Since 2020, Wheeler has led all qualified starters with 19.3 Wins Above Replacement (FanGraphs version) thanks to a combination of both quantity (629 2/3 innings) and quality (3.06 ERA and 2.90 FIP). Few pitchers have shown his level of dominance -- in terms of run prevention, stuff and command -- while doing so in this many innings. Somehow, one of baseball's best pitchers has found an even higher level in October after reaching the playoffs for the first time in 2022.
Regular season vs. postseason numbers since 2022
3.26 ERA (345 IP) / 2.63 ERA (54 2/3 IP) 1.06 WHIP / 0.70 WHIP 26.9% strikeout rate / 28.9% strikeout rate 5.2% walk rate / 3.9% walk rate .277 xwOBA / .253 xwOBA
Wheeler's numbers aren't just good compared to his regular-season norms. They match up with pretty much any postseason pitcher. Among the 170 pitchers who've thrown 40 postseason innings, none has a lower WHIP (0.70) than Wheeler. He's just one of four pitchers in that same group who has a strikeout rate of at least 25% and a walk rate below 5% -- the others being other postseason legends themselves in Nathan Eovaldi, Stephen Strasburg and Cliff Lee.
Wheeler's keys to October dominance
We know that Wheeler is a dominant postseason force. The question is how he's doing so when the stakes are the highest against the best teams in the sport.
For Wheeler, the main reasons for the improvements in October are surprisingly simple. He's throwing harder, using his fastball more and getting ahead of hitters more frequently.
Across the past two postseasons, Wheeler has seen his velocity up nearly a full tick on both his four-seamer (96 mph) and two-seamer (96.0 mph). Ditto for his curveball (82.5 mph) and his slider (91.8 mph). While adrenaline generally leads to a sizable velocity boost for most pitchers in the playoffs, Wheeler isn't just seeing these positive returns in shorter outings. He's tossed at least five innings in all nine of his postseason starts.
Wheeler has responded to his velocity boost by throwing more fastballs, especially earlier in the count. His fastball usage has jumped 4.1% in the playoffs the past two seasons to 64.7%. More notably, Wheeler is throwing first-pitch fastballs 73% of the time in the playoffs compared to 67.1% in the regular season. Because he's throwing harder fastballs more often on the first pitch for strikes, he's seen his first-pitch strike rate jump from 63.9% in the regular season to 70.1% in the playoffs, including a whopping 73.9% rate in this year's postseason.
That's helped put Wheeler in a better position to do damage in optimal counts for a pitcher. When he's been ahead in the count in the postseason, opposing hitters have a measly .127/.136/.167 line against him. When Wheeler has gotten to two strikes, he's generated most of his strikeouts on his curveball (21), four-seamer (20) and a new sweeper (8) that he folded in prior to this season.
Sweeping his way to a higher level
A differentiating factor for the best athletes is their ability to constantly find new ways to improve. In the case of Wheeler -- who didn't exactly need to change that much -- he joined the sweeper craze by adding his own version in Spring Training this year.
"The sweeper is a pitch that Wheeler started to throw in Spring Training, hoping to give hitters something else to consider as they tried to beat him," MLB.com Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki wrote after Wheeler's Game 1 Wild Card Series outing against the Marlins.
Despite the spectacular regular-season results with the pitch (39.2% whiff rate and .360 SLG), Wheeler's sweeper was his fourth-most utilized pitch at 12.2%. That's changed in his first two playoff outings this year, which has seen the usage jump to 21.6%. That has been Wheeler's second-most utilized pitch outside of his four-seamer. It was clear that the pitch itself and Wheeler's usage of it was different after his Wild Card Series start, where he struck out a career-high five batters on the sweeper.
“That was the best the sweeper’s been,” Wheeler said after his Game 1 against the Marlins.
The metrics back that up. Wheeler has seemingly found the optimal combination of velocity, spin and horizontal movement on the pitch in the playoffs. He's throwing it about a half-mph slower (83.8) in the postseason but is getting an additional 1.7 inches of horizontal break on the pitch. At 15.3 inches of break, it is moving almost the entire distance of the width of home plate (17 inches). Hitters have struck out eight times in 18 plate appearances ending on the sweeper, with Wheeler's only real mistake coming on Travis d'Arnaud's home run in his Game 1 NL Division Series start.
With a nastier sweeper at his disposal, Wheeler has been an even better version of his 2022 postseason self. It's not just the two different fastballs that consistently clock in at 97-plus mph and land for strikes. Nor is it just the already-strong breaking balls (slider and curveball) that he's been able to use to put hitters away. Now Wheeler is relying heavily on a breaking ball that can nearly cover the width of home plate.
Zack Wheeler, Slider vs. Sweeper
Slider: 92 mph, 3" of horizontal break Sweeper: 84 mph, 16" of horizontal break
Some pitchers have a knack for taking their game to the next level when October hits. It's become abundantly clear that Wheeler fits that criteria. After helping lead the Phillies to within two games of a World Series title last year, he's doing his best to make that happen again this year -- and then some.
If Wheeler keeps this up, the Phillies might be hoisting their first World Series trophy since 2008.