The Magic of the Phillies' Nine-Game Winning Streak: Can Zack Wheeler Get Back on Track?

The Philadelphia Phillies have been on a hot streak, winning nine games in a row. This magical run began in Iowa and has now reached Seattle, but it was recently interrupted by a tough loss to the Mariners. The culprit? Starting pitcher Zack Wheeler, who gave up six runs and threw 92 pitches in just four innings.

Interim manager Don Mattingly was hesitant to let Wheeler go back out for the fifth inning, but the pitcher insisted he was ready and eager to redeem himself. Unfortunately, things only got worse as Wheeler gave up two more homers, ending the night with eight runs allowed in just five innings.

This has been a trend for Wheeler lately, as he has been struggling with his command and control. In the month of August, he has an alarming 7.59 ERA in 21 1/3 innings pitched. This is a far cry from his usual dominance on the mound, and it's frustrating for him as he feels healthy and strong after overcoming thoracic outlet surgery in 2025.

The issue seems to change with each start, but on Monday, Wheeler's splitter was giving him trouble. It was hit hard four times, resulting in three hits, tying a career-high. His command has been a major factor in his struggles, as he has walked 15 batters in his last four starts, the most he's had in a four-game span since 2014. This is uncharacteristic for Wheeler, who is known for his elite stuff and command.

The Phillies have been fortunate to have other pitchers step up during this rough patch for Wheeler. Andrew Painter, who was in Triple-A less than a month ago, had a great outing on Saturday, and Aaron Nola has improved his ERA from 5.12 to 2.74 in August. This has taken some pressure off the team, as they no longer rely solely on Wheeler to win every game.

But come October, when the stakes are higher, the Phillies will need a strong and reliable Wheeler. He has a month left to figure out his struggles and make necessary adjustments. In his last start, Wheeler tried to dig in more with his legs, but it ended up causing trouble with his off-speed pitches. He will need to find a balance and get back to his usual dominant form.

Despite Monday's loss, there's no denying the magic of the Phillies' nine-game winning streak. From a thrilling walk-off by Alec Bohm to Kyle Schwarber's homers into the corn, this team has dramatically improved in just two weeks. They now have the lowest strikeout rate and highest walk rate in August, along with leading the majors in OBP. This has been a major factor in their success and has kept them in contention for the NL East title.

While the team has shown improvement in many areas, Wheeler's struggles cannot be ignored. It's back to the drawing board for him, as he looks for answers on how to get back on track. The Phillies have a chance to solidify their spot in the wild card race and potentially challenge for the division title, but they will need a strong Wheeler down the stretch.

The magic of the Phillies' winning streak may have been interrupted by Monday's loss, but there's no denying the potential of this team. They have shown resilience and determination, and with a strong Wheeler, they have a real shot at making a deep run in the playoffs. As Wheeler said, it's time to dig in and figure things out. The Phillies' season may depend on it.