Zack Wheeler's Game 1 Performance was Sensational and yet just a Footnote in Phillies History

After a 6-2 loss in Game 1 of the NLDS to the hated New York Mets, it's understandable if you are reluctant to appreciate anything related to the Phillies right now.

But the reality is, Zack Wheeler authored one of the best postseason starts in franchise history on Saturday. 

Sure, it's going to be buried in the notes section of future media guides. It likely won't even show up in the Phillies video yearbook when it's released this winter. This is the byproduct of a disheartening playoff loss.

But it was pretty historic, and it put Wheeler in rare company. 

First, the numbers. 

Wheler pitched seven innings. He allowed one hit - a single. He allowed no runs. He struck out nine. 

He threw 111 pitches, with 68 of them for strikes. Of those 68, 30 were swings and misses. That's right - 30. 

In the first inning he threw 11 pitches. All 11 were for strikes and he touched 99 on the radar gun, the fastest he's thrown a pitch this season. 

Zack Wheeler's 99mph Heater.

Hit it? I can't even see it. 😳 pic.twitter.com/4pUcRhnAVX

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 5, 2024

"Wheeler was unbelievable," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. "We haven't seen that type of velocity out of him and stuff out of him for a while. That was as good as he gets."

There were four more notes about Wheeler's performance that need to be recognized. 

• He has now pitched at least six innings and allowed two runs or fewer and struck out at least eight in five straight postseason games. That's tied for the second-most such starts in MLB history with a guy named Sandy Koufax. You may have heard of him. The record is six, by another guy you may know - Curt Schilling.
• The 30 swings and misses are the most by a Phillies pitcher in any game - regular season or playoffs, in the pitch-tracking era, which goes back to 2008. Only two other pitchers have ever had more - Tim Lincecum had 31 in 2010 and Gerrit Cole had 33 in 2019. 
• Wheeler now has 77 career strikeouts in the postseason, which ties Cole Hamels for the franchise record. It's one more than Hall of Famer Steve Carlton.
• This was only the third time in Phillies history that a pitcher threw at least seven innings and allowed one or fewer hits. Wheeler now has two of the three starts. His other equally dominant outing was in Game 1 of the 2022 NLCS against San Diego. The only other pitcher to do it? Roy Halladay when he threw the no-hitter against the Reds in 2010.

Having Zack Wheeler on your team is pretty great. Highly recommend. pic.twitter.com/LDMEtgRHoG

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 5, 2024

"Wheels threw the crap out of it again," said Bryce Harper. "Every time he goes out there, he gives you a very good chance to win. He just threw the ball great and obviously that's good to see."

But will the Phillies get to see it again this year? If so, they have to win at least two out of the next three games for Wheeler to take the hill again.

It would be one hell of a shame if he didn't get that opportunity.