Wheeler, Schwarber set to rep Phils with their 3rd All-Star selections

PHILADELPHIA -- On the same day he was named an All-Star, Zack Wheeler made an emphatic case for why he deserves to not just be on the roster, but start the Midsummer Classic on July 15 at Truist Park.

Wheeler was one of two Phillies named to the National League All-Star team on Sunday, along with designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. It's the third career All-Star selection for each player.

Hours before the announcement, Wheeler turned in arguably the best start of his career in a complete-game one-hitter against the Reds. He struck out 12 and walked zero to improve to 9-3 with a 2.17 ERA and an NL-leading 148 strikeouts.

While this is Wheeler's third All-Star selection, his only All-Star appearance came in 2021 when he faced one batter -- recording the final out for the NL in its 5-2 loss -- at Coors Field. Wheeler was also an All-Star last year, but he did not attend the game because he was scheduled to pitch the final Sunday before the break (an outing he ultimately missed due to back spasms).

Wheeler figures to have a much more prominent role in next week's game at Truist Park -- a ballpark that sits just a few miles east of where Wheeler grew up.

"It'd be really cool,” Wheeler said of potentially starting that game so close to home. “It would be an honor, for sure."

Whether Wheeler gets the starting nod will be determined later in the week by NL manager Dave Roberts. The decision could come down to Wheeler or Pirates ace Paul Skenes, who earned the starting nod for the NL as a rookie last season. Wheeler leads the NL in strikeouts, WHIP and opponents’ batting average. Skenes leads in ERA.

Wheeler is looking to become the first Phillies pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Roy Halladay in 2011. Skenes, meanwhile, would be the first pitcher to start back-to-back All-Star Games since Max Scherzer and Chris Sale in 2017-18.

"They've had very similar first halves," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. "Both have been great, let's put it that way."

All things relatively equal, would Thomson -- who managed the NL All-Star team in 2023 -- take into consideration a personal storyline such as a guy pitching near his hometown?

"In this case," he said, "because they've had similar first halves -- great first halves -- yeah, I'd take that into account."

Meanwhile, two of Wheeler's rotationmates, Cristopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez -- each of whom was an All-Star last year -- were not selected this season. Sánchez is 7-2 with a 2.68 ERA and 108 strikeouts over 100 2/3 innings. Suárez, meanwhile, missed the first month of the season due to a back injury, but he's 7-2 with a 1.99 ERA in 12 starts since making his season debut on May 4.

It's possible they could be added as replacements as the game gets closer, though Sánchez is in line to pitch Sunday's first-half finale in San Diego and would not be available regardless.

As for Schwarber, he’ll be returning to the Midsummer Classic for the first time since 2022 -- his debut season with the Phillies. Schwarber’s 27 home runs this season are his second most in any season before the break, trailing only that '22 campaign when he hit 29 in the first half.

Schwarber has carried the load for Philadelphia, with no other Phillie hitting more than 11 home runs so far. He also leads the team in RBIs (63), runs (63), on-base percentage (.383), slugging percentage (.541) and OPS (.924).

“It means a lot, he said. “You want to represent your organization and your team, and obviously, yourself. You're putting in work, and to be recognized for that, is pretty cool. It's definitely something that's not overlooked when you're named an All-Star and you get to the game and do all the cool things, it's fun.”

It will be particularly fun for Schwarber this time around because he’ll be able to enjoy it more with his kids, Kade and Asher. Kade was only a few months old when Schwarber was previously an All-Star, while Asher was just born early last year.

“That's going to be fun,” Schwarber said. “Get to go to the Home Run Derby and have both the boys out there and have them watch. I know Kade is going to be excited to be out there and seeing balls flying all over the place. So, I expect he's going to have a great time."

Schwarber said he won’t be participating in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby this year, though he didn’t rule out doing it again in the future -- including next year when the Midsummer Classic comes to Philadelphia. (Keep in mind, however, Schwarber is a free agent after this season.)

"Maybe see what happens next year,” Schwarber said.