Sep 17, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Zack Wheeler allowed one run over seven innings, Nick Castellanos crushed a solo home run, and Bryce Harper hit a two-run blast in a Phillies win over the Brewers on Tuesday.
The victory pushed the Phils four games ahead of Milwaukee for a top-two NL playoff seed. And coupled with a Dodgers loss to Miami, the win gave the Fightins a two-game lead for the best record in baseball.
The Phillies can clinch a postseason berth as early as tomorrow, and their magic number to clinch the NL East is down to four.
Zack Wheeler may lose the NL Cy Young race to Atlanta's Chris Sale, but Wheeler is certainly having a Cy Young-caliber season. His line tonight: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 99 pitches (65 strikes).
Zack Wheeler is just incredible
He gives up just one ER tonight. So he has given up a total of 11 earned runs over his last 9 starts
2.56 ERA. Third best in ⚾️
pic.twitter.com/DcCd83vIE3
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) September 18, 2024
Bryce Harper on Zack Wheeler:
"He's the Cy Young. I don't care what anybody says. I don't care what the numbers look like. He's the Cy Young. He's the best in baseball, man" pic.twitter.com/AddCiRmjk1
Zack Wheeler through 30 starts:
186⅔ innings
2.56 ERA
0.95 WHIP
205 strikeouts
49 walks
Lowest rate of hits and baserunners in the National League.
— Corey Seidman (@CSeidmanNBCS) September 18, 2024
According to @fangraphs, Zack Wheeler is the third pitcher this season to reach 5.0 WAR. He joins Chris Sale (6.4) and Tarik Skubal (5.4).
It's Wheeler's third season reaching that mark as a Phillie. He had a 5.9 WAR in 2023, and 7.2 in 2021.
Check on your loved ones. Castellanos' second-inning home run started the scoring. He's up to 21 HRs on the season.
Nick Castellanos lifts a solo shot to get the @Phillies on the board. pic.twitter.com/iYIUtZWtFU
Nick Castellanos got the #Phillies on the board with his home run in the 2nd inning.
That put him in a tie for 10th most HRs hit as a Rightfielder in franchise history.
__@TheGoodPhight pic.twitter.com/mPW22n372o
Looked like the umpires missed this call in the third, then failed to correct their mistake after a replay review. T-Mac and Ben Davis sure thought the umps got it wrong. You be the judge:
T-Mac and Ben Davis can’t believe the call pic.twitter.com/kSy79oNzIJ
Does anyone see a tag here? pic.twitter.com/haYtIWx7fy
Not long ago, Harper was in one of the longest home run droughts of his career. Not anymore. In his last 15 games, Harper is hitting .368/.429/.649 (1.078 OPS).
Another Bryce Harper Home run! That’s his 3rd in 4 games 🔥🙌🏾
Bryce bomb pic.twitter.com/un7IDsXk91
How Bryce Harper's two-run dinger sounded on Brewers radio with the great Bob Uecker pic.twitter.com/NWgxVpdo3U
Will the Phillies celebrate a playoff berth, or keep the champagne on ice until they clinch the NL East? Here's what manager Rob Thomson had to say:
Rob Thomson discussing whether the Phillies would celebrate a playoff berth or wait until they clinch the NL East pic.twitter.com/gJoDalrlr8
