CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Phillies manager Rob Thomson announced on Monday what everybody already expected.
Zack Wheeler will start on Opening Day on March 27 against the Nationals in D.C.
“He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball,” Thomson said after Philadelphia's 4-2 Grapefruit League victory over the Blue Jays at BayCare Ballpark. “It’s the combination of power and command -- pitchability. That’s why he’s so great.”
Wheeler had been lined up since late last month to start the season opener against the Nationals, who will start left-hander MacKenzie Gore (10-12, 3.90 ERA last season). Gore went 1-1 with a 3.42 ERA in four starts against the Phillies.
But Wheeler was the obvious choice for the Phils on Opening Day, even in a rotation full of former All-Star starters.
It will be Wheeler’s second consecutive Opening Day start.
“He’s a stud, man,” said Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola, who started six consecutive Opening Days from 2018-23. “His track record shows it. I’ll say it again, I think he’s the best in the league.”
A strong argument can be made that Wheeler has been baseball’s best pitcher the past five years.
Wheeler leads the Majors with 25.4 bWAR and 24.7 fWAR from 2020-24. He is second in wins (59), just one behind Framber Valdez (60). Wheeler is second in innings (829 1/3; behind Nola's 850) and WHIP (1.03; behind Corbin Burnes' 1.02), third in ERA (2.94) and sixth in strikeouts (899). He was the runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award in both 2021 and '24.
Wheeler has been a stud in the postseason, too. He is 4-3 with a 2.18 ERA in 12 postseason appearances (11 starts). His postseason ERA ranks 10th in baseball history (minimum eight starts). It’s better than Curt Schilling (2.23), Orel Hershiser (2.59), Jim Palmer (2.61), John Smoltz (2.67) and Whitey Ford (2.71).
Left-hander Jesús Luzardo and Nola are lined up to start Games 2 and 3, respectively, although Thomson did not want to announce anything until he speaks to his pitchers. Left-hander Cristopher Sánchez is lined up to start the home opener against the Rockies at Citizens Bank Park on March 31. Left-hander Ranger Suárez would then start on April 2 against the Rockies.