MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Miami Marlins today begin Postseason play with Game One of the National League Wild Card series against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in the club’s first playoff game since 2020 and the first in a full season since 2003. The Marlins are coming off a 3-3 road trip that finished with a series win at Pittsburgh, 2-1.
GET WILD MIAMI!
The Marlins clinched a National League Wild Card spot, marking the fourth Postseason appearance in club history and first since 2020. The last time the Marlins reached the Postseason in a full season was 2003, when the club won the World Series as a Wild Card. In securing the second National League Wild Card position this season, the Marlins returned to a familiar position, as it marked the fourth time (of four total postseason appearances) that the club made its way into the Postseason as a Wild Card seed. In 1997, the Marlins became the 1st team in MLB history to win the World Series as a Wild Card team (Wild Card Era began in 1995). Then, in 2003, the Marlins became the only team in MLB to win the World Series two times as a Wild Card team, and still hold that title. Miami earned the second Wild Card spot in the National League, finishing the regular season tied with Arizona who they went 4-2 against in 2023 to win the first tiebreaker.
REGULAR SEASON RECAP
The Marlins finished the 2023 regular season schedule going 84-77, marking the club’s first winning season since moving to Miami and the first since 2009. Miami reached as high as 14 games over .500 twice this season (last on July 9), marking just the third time in franchise history the Marlins have been at least 14 games over .500 at any point (also, 1997 – finished 22 games over; and 2003 – finished 20 games over).
FISH PHILET
The Marlins will play their first ever postseason series against Philadelphia this week at Citizens Bank Park where they are 74-104 all-time. Miami fared 4-2 at Philadelphia this season, winning both of the two series and most recently with a 2-1 series victory from Sept. 8-10. Overall this season, went 7-6 against the Phil’s, taking 3 of 4 series.
IN SKIP WE TRUST
Marlins rookie Manager Skip Schumaker guided the Marlins to a 84-77 record and .522 winning percentage in his first year at the helm. He became the third Marlins manager to secure a winning record in their first full season managing the team, joining Jim Leyland (92-70; 1997) and Jack McKeon (83-79; 2004). Both Leyland and McKeon had previous managing experience prior to becoming the Marlins manager.
305 TO MY CITY
Miami’s Game One starter LHP Jesus Luzardo finished the regular season with 208 strikeouts, setting a club record for strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher in a season. He joined Al Leiter (200, 1996) as the only other left-handed pitcher in Marlins history to reach the 200-strikeout mark, and marked the 9th such season (8th different pitcher) to accomplish the feat. His breakout season also featured a 3.63 ERA in a career high 178.2 innings, as he led the Marlins rotation with 32 starts. Luzardo, who grew up in South Florida, recently celebrated his birthday on September 30 – exactly 26 years to the day that the Florida Marlins won the franchise’s ever playoff game against the San Francisco Giants in Game 1 of the National League Division Series in 1997.
BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL
Miami’s offense ranked 2nd in the NL (6th in MLB) with a total of 1,427 hits in 2023, and also ranked 2nd in the NL with a collective .259 batting average (4th in MLB). The pitching staff set a club record with 1,490 total strikeouts, surpassing the previous high set in 2022 (1,437). This year’s mark ranked 2nd in the NL and 5th in baseball.
TALKIN’ TANNER
Marlins closer LHP Tanner Scott (104 K) joined Kyle Barraclough (113, 2016) as the only two relief pitchers in franchise history to record 100 strikeouts in a season. He is the first left-handed reliever in club history to accomplish the feat. Ranked 1st in the National League with 104 strikeouts (3rd in MLB). His 32 multi-strikeout games also ranked tied for 1st in the NL, and tied for 4th in MLB. Major League Baseball today named Tanner Scott the National League Reliever of the Month for September, where he went 3-1 with a 1.65 ERA (16.1/3), 0.67 WHIP, and held opponents to a .167 batting average while walking 1 and striking out 20.
ONE-RUN WONDERS
The Marlins went 33-14 in one-run games this year, with their .702 winning percentage in such games marking the best record in MLB. Only the Reds won more games decided by one run (34). Miami’s .702 winning pct. in one-run games is the best mark in franchise history, while the 33 one-run wins are tied for the 2nd-most such wins with the 1997 and 2000 teams, trailing only the 2014 Marlins (35-29).
LA REGADERA
Venezuelan-born Luis Arraez was crowned the National League batting champion, finishing the season with a .354 batting average to become the first player in MLB history to win batting titles in two different leagues in consecutive years. Overall, only two players have won batting titles in each league – DJ LeMahieu (NL – 2016; AL – 2020) and Ed Delahanty (NL – 1899; AL – 1902). Arraez became the third Marlins player to win the NL batting title, joining Dee StrangeGordon in 2015 (.333) and Hanley Ramirez in 2009 (.342). He is the first player in Marlins history to lead MLB in batting average in a season.
DO YOU REMEMBER?
The club entered September with a .500 or better record for the 1st time in a full season since 2016, and 8th time overall in club history. The Marlins proceeded to go 17-10 in the month of September, tied for the second-most wins in the National League. It also tied the 2009 team for the second-most September wins in club history, behind only the 2003 Marlins who went 18-8.
2023 NLWCS GAME 1 STARTER – #44 JESUS LUZARDO
- Jesus Luzardo, 26, will make his third career postseason start (fourth app.) and 33rd start of 2023. Marks his sixth career start against the Philadelphia Phillies.
- POSTSEASON: In 2 career postseason starts (3 apps.), all with Oakland (2019, 2020), has gone 0-1 with a 5.91 ERA (10.2/7) with 11 strikeouts. Has held batters to a .286 AVG (12×42).
- Last faced Philadelphia on July 9, 2023 at loanDepot park, earning the win as he allowed 2 runs on 4 hits (1 home run) and 1 walk over 6.1 innings with 9 strikeouts.
- In his most recent start on Thursday, Sept. 28 at the Mets, tossed a career-high 7.1 innings, recording 10 strikeouts. Marked his 7th career game with 10 or more strikeouts. Marked his 3rd such game this season (also, July 23 vs. Colorado – 13 K, April 5 vs. Minnesota – 10 K).
- His 208 strikeouts set the single-season Marlins record for a left-handed pitcher in Marlins history, and the most since Al Leiter in 1996 (200 K).
- With a career-high 10 wins this season, became the first left-handed Marlins pitcher to record at least 10 wins in a season since LHP Caleb Smith went 10-11 in 2019.
- Struck out a career-high 13 batters on July 23 vs. Colorado, matching the most K’s by a Marlins left-hander in franchise history (LHP Braxton Garrett set the record on June 6, 2023).
- 17 of 32 starts this year were quality starts, the most among Marlins starters and fifth-most among left-handed pitchers in MLB.
- Went 5-4 in 2023 at loanDepot park with a 3.07 ERA (108.1/37) in 19 starts and 5-5 with a 4.48 ERA (70.1/35) in 13 starts away.
- Left-handed batters hit .215 (32×149) vs. Luzardo in 2023 with 3 home runs and a .600 OPS while right-handed batters hit .248 (131×528) with 19 home runs and an .745 OPS.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES NOTES:
WELCOME TO RED OCTOBER: The Phillies woke up on June 3 (the one-year anniversary of Rob Thomson’s first game as manager) seven games under .500 at 25-32 and from that point on, went 65-40 with a .619 winning percentage that ranked T-3rd among all clubs in MLB (with BAL), behind only ATL (.676) and LAD (.625) … On Sept. 26, the Phillies clinched the top wildcard spot and their second consecutive postseason appearance with a walk-off win over the Pirates … The Phillies slugged 220 home runs this season which ranked 2nd in club history (224 in 2009) but they set a franchise record with 121 home runs after the All-Star break … The Phillies had six different players with 20+ home runs which set a franchise record … Zack Wheeler led all pitchers in MLB in fWAR (5.9) as Philadelphia’s pitching combined for 24.4 fWAR which led MLB and was 6.3 wins in front of SD who ranked 2nd in the NL at 18.1 fWAR.
YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT: The Phillies are 22-11 all time in the postseason at Citizens Bank Park … Per Elias, among all teams in MLB history to play 30+ postseason games at a home venue, the Phillies’ .667 winning percentage at Citizens Bank park is tied for 1st (with NYM at Shea Stadium) … STL (.660 win %) at Busch Stadium (1967-2005) ranks 3rd, HOU (.636 win %) at Minute Maid Park (2001- 22) ranks 4th, BAL (.633 win %) at Memorial Stadium (1966-83) ranks 5th and NYY (.627 win %) at Yankee Stadium I (1923-2007) ranks 6th … The Phillies lost their first two postseason games at CBP, Game 1 & 2 of the 2007 NLDS vs COL – since then, the Phillies have won 22 of their last 31 postseason games at CBP (.710 win %) with a +70 run differential (171-101).
BEDLAM AT THE BANK: The Phillies went 49-32 at Citizens Bank Park this season with a +83 run differential (418-335) that was their best mark at home since they were +114 at home in 2011 (367-253) … Of their 26 home series this season, the Phillies won 17 of them … Philadelphia’s 49 wins and .605 winning percentage were both tied for 3rd-best in CBP history (since 2004), behind only the 2010 club (54-30, .643) and the 2011 team (52-39, .642) … The Phillies reached 3,000,000 in attendance for the 9th time in the history of CBP and for the first time since 2013 … Philadelphia saw their attendance increase by over 9,500 per game from a season ago which was the most of any club in MLB.
GAME ONE: In Game 1’s, the Phillies are 19-7 all time with a .731 winning percentage that ranks 2nd in MLB history (min. 20 G) – BAL ranks 1st at 16-5 (.762), however this includes the time when they were the St. Louis Browns from 1902-53 … The Phillies have won five straight Game 1’s (since Game 1 of 2011 NLDS) and they have won 12 of their last 13 Game 1’s (since Game 1 of 2008 NLDS) … Philadelphia’s only loss in Game 1 over their last 13 postseason series was Game 1 of the 2010 NLCS vs SF … Last season, the Phillies won the first game of all four postseason series they played as they became the only club in MLB history to win four Game 1’s in a single postseason.
LEGEND OF THE FALL: Phils’ starter Zack Wheeler gets the start tonight in what will be his 7th career postseason start … Last year, in his first run through October, Wheeler made six starts and posted a 2.78 ERA (11 ER, 35.2 IP) with 33 strikeouts, 7 walks and only 2 home runs allowed … He faced 135 batters last postseason and limited them to a .153/.222/.226 slash line (.448 OPS) … Of Wheeler’s six starts last postseason, four were quality starts – he went at least 5.0 innings in all six games and at least 6.0 innings in four … Among all pitchers in postseason history to throw at least 30.0 innings in a single postseason, Wheeler’s .448 opponents OPS ranks 5th behind only Madison Bumgarner in 2014 (.407 OPS), Curt Schilling in 2001 (.435 OPS), Orel Hershiser in 1988 (.439 OPS) and Randy Johnson in 2001 (.439 OPS) … Further, Wheeler posted a 0.73 WHIP last postseason which also ranks 5th in MLB postseason history (min. 30.0 IP) behind only Schilling in 2001 (0.64 WHIP), Bumgarner in 2014 (0.65 WHIP), Josh Beckett in 2007 (0.70 WHIP) and Don Sutton in 1974 (0.70 WHIP).
MR. OCTOBER: Last postseason, Bryce Harper slashed .349/.414/.746 with a 1.160 OPS, 12 runs, 7 doubles, 6 home runs, 13 RBI and 6 walks over 71 plate appearances … Harper was named NLCS MVP after posting a 1.250 OPS in five games against the Padres – Harper hit a go-ahead 2-run home run in the 8th inning of Game 5 at Citizens Bank Park to send the Phillies to the World Series … In 27 plate appearances with runners on base last postseason, Harper slashed .435/.500/.957 with a 1.457 OPS that ranks 7th among all MLB players over the last 50 seasons in a single postseason (min. 25 PA) and 3rd among NL players, behind only Albert Pujols in 2011 (1.589 OPS), Pujols in 2004 (1.519 OPS) and Barry Bonds in 2002 (1.493 OPS).
IN COMPANY WITH COOPERSTOWN: On Sept. 12, Bryce Harper became only the 18th player in Major League Baseball history to reach 1,500 career hits and 300 home runs before turning 31 years old … He is joined by Hall-of-Famers Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Mell Ott, Duke Snider, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Johnny Bench, Ken Griffey Jr. and Vladimir Gurrero … Of the 18 players in MLB history with 1,500 hits and 300 home runs before turning 31, the only ones currently not in the Hall of Fame are Harper, Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols, Andruw Jones, Alex Rodriguez and Juan Gonzalez … Of those 18 players with 1,500 hits and 300 home runs before turning 31, only four had 900+ walks at the time: Mantle (973), Harper (947), Mathews (910) and Gehrig (909).
GET ME TO THE PLATE BOYS: In “Close & Late” situations (7th inning or later with the batting team ahead by one run, tied, or with the tying run on base, at bat or on deck), Bryce Harper had 91 plate appearances this season and slashed .387/.495/.667 with a 1.161 OPS that was the best in MLB – he reached base safely in 45 of those 91 plate appearances … Per FanGraphs, Harper ranked 2nd in MLB this year in Win Probability Added at 5.77 – he trailed only Ronald Acuna Jr. (6.87) – Mookie Betts ranked 3rd behind Harper at 5.21.
LEADING MAN: Leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber had a career-high 126 walks this season which ranks T-4th in Phillies franchise history for a single year with HOF Billy Hamilton who had 126 in 1894 … Bobby Abreu ranks 3rd with 127 in 2004 and HOF Mike Schmidt ranks 2nd with 128 in 1983 … The franchise record for walks in a season is 129, set by Lenny Dykstra in 1993 … Schwarber ranked 2nd in MLB this year in both walks and walk rate (17.5%), trailing only Juan Soto in both (132, 18.6%) … After he was moved back to the leadoff spot on June 2, the Phillies went 65-41 (.613 win %) – In that span, they went 46-16 when Schwarber scored a run (.742) and 24-7 in the 31 games he homered (.774) … Schwarber hit a franchise record 11 leadoff home runs this season which eclipsed Jimmy Rollins’ previous record of 9 in 2007.
120 WALKS, 100 RUNS, 100 RBI, 45 HOMERS: Kyle Schwarber (126 BB, 108 R, 104 RBI, 47 HR) is one of only 13 MLB players since 1920 (when RBI became official) with a 120 walk/100 R/100 RBI/45 HR season … Babe Ruth did so eight times, Barry Bonds four times, Mark McGwire two times, and Lou Gehrig, Chipper Jones, Aaron Judge, Harmon Killebrew, Ralph Kiner, Mickey Mantle, Willie McCovey, Mike Schmidt & Jim Thome all did so once.
THE SUMMER OF SCHWARBS: Leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber finished the year with a career-best 47 home runs and a career high 126 walks … Schwarber is only the 8th player in MLB history with as many home runs and walks in a single season: Babe Ruth did so six times (1920, 1921, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1930), Mark McGwire two times (1998, 1999), and Barry Bonds (2001), Lou Gehrig (1936), Aaron Judge (2017), Harmon Killebrew (1969) and Mickey Mantle (1961) all did so once.
SCHWARBER, McGWIRE, RUTH: In his first two seasons in Philadelphia (since 2022), Kyle Schwarber hit 93 home runs which ranks 2nd in MLB behind only Aaron Judge (99 HR) and he walked 212 times which also ranks 2nd in MLB behind only Juan Soto (267 BB) … Schwarber is only the 3rd player in MLB history with 90+ home runs and 200+ walks through any player’s first two seasons with a club: Mark McGwire with St. Louis from 1997-98 (94 HR, 205 BB) and Babe Ruth with the Yankees from 1920-21 (113 HR, 294 BB).
SOUTHPAW SUCCESS: The Phillies hit 30 home runs as left handed batters off left handed pitchers this year, most of any club in MLB (next: LAD, 27) … Philadelphia’s lefty hitters walked 92 times against LHP which was also tops in MLB (next: SD, 69 BB) … Philadelphia’s right-handed hitters posted a .483 SLG against LHP which was 3rd in MLB, behind only ATL (.541) and SD (.491)… Combined (LHH & RHH), the Phillies slashed .256/.327/.452 with a .778 OPS off lefties that was 8th in MLB … The Phils went 30-21 (.588 win %) in games they faced a left-handed starter this year.
ON THE PLUS SIDE: The Phillies set a franchise record and had a major league high seven players with an OPS+ of 104 or better who qualified for the batting title: Bryce Harper (146 OPS+), Kyle Schwarber (122 OPS+), Nick Castellanos (112 OPS+), Trea Turner (111 OPS+), Alec Bohm (108 OPS+), J.T. Realmuto (106 OPS+) and Bryson Stott (104 OPS+) – Brandon Marsh posted a 127 OPS+ but fell 30 plate appearances short of qualifying … Atlanta ranked 2nd behind the Phillies with six players with an OPS+ of 104 better (Acuna, Albies, Harris, Olson, Ozuna, Riley) … The Phillies are one of only 40 teams in the Modern Era to have seven players qualify for the batting title and post an OPS+ of 104 or better (last 10: NYM in 2022, LAA in 2012, LAA in 2011, NYY in 2009, CLE in 2005, NYY in 2005, BOS in 2003, CAL in 1982, MIL in 1978 and CIN in 1974).
AMONG THE GREATS: Right-hander Craig Kimbrel finished the year with 1,191 career strikeouts which ranks 5th among all relief pitchers since at least 1893 (Elias) … Of the four relief pitchers currently in front of Kimbrel on the strikeout list, three are Hall of Famers (Hoyt Wilhelm – ,363 SO, Goose Gossage – 1,340 SO, Lee Smith – 1,225 SO) and the other is Billy Wagner (1,196 SO), Kimbrel’s former teammate, who received 51.0% of the vote this past year, his 7th on the ballot … Kimbrel was selected as an All-Star for the 9th time in 2023 and picked up his first career save in an ASG … Kimbrel is only the 13th pitcher in history with 9+ career selections to the ASG – of those 13 players, 9 are in Cooperstown: Warren Spahn (14 ASG), Mariano Rivera (13 ASG), Tom Seaver (12 ASG), Tom Glavine (10 ASG), Randy Johnson (10 ASG), Steve Carlton (10 ASG), Goose Gossage (9 ASG), Juan Marichal (9 ASG) and Carl Hubbell (9 ASG) – the only four pitchers with nine+ ASG selections who are not in the HOF are Roger Clemens (11 ASG), Clayton Kershaw (10 ASG), Justin Verlander (9 ASG) and Kimbrel … He currently ranks 8th in MLB history with 417 saves.
RISP AND REWARD: From July 1 through the end of the season, the Phillies slashed .278/.354/.485 with runners in scoring position and posted an .839 OPS with RISP which ranked 4th in MLB … From July 1 through the end of the season, the Phils had six qualified players with an OPS over .800 with RISP: Kyle Schwarber (1.046), Bryce Harper (1.024), Brandon Marsh (1.016), Alec Bohm (.937), Nick Castellanos (.840) and Bryson Stott (.802).
TURNED HIM LOOSE: Shortstop Trea Turner had a career-high 66 extra-base hits in his first season in Philadelphia … He also hit 26 home runs, scored 102 runs and was a perfect 30-for-30 in stolen base attempts … Dating back to last season, Turner is 35-for-35 in stolen base attempts – his 100.0% success rate this season is the highest since 1951 among all MLB players who attempted at least 30 stolen bases in one season (previous: Brady Anderson in 1994 & Carlos Beltran in 2001, both 31-for-32/96.9%) … From Aug. 4 through the end of the season, (48 G), Turner slashed .337/.389/.668 with a 1.057 OPS (211 PA) that ranked 4th out of 143 qualified players in MLB.
ARMS RACE: The Phillies starting rotation led the National League with 899.0 innings pitched this year which ranked 3rd in MLB, behind only SEA (901.1) and HOU (900.0) … Philadelphia’s rotation put up 17.7 fWAR as a staff which ranked 1st among all MLB rotations (next: MIN, 16.5) and was 3.2 wins in front of the next closest NL club (SD, 14.5) … Consequently, Philadelphia’s bullpen threw the fewest innings of any relief corps in MLB this year with 543.1, yet Philadelphia’s relief pitchers combined for 6.7 fWAR which was 3rd in MLB behind LAD (7.6) and BAL (7.5) … Combined (SP & RP), Phillies pitching put up 24.4 fWAR this year which was the best in MLB (next: TB, 20.6) and was 6.3 wins in front of SD who ranked 2nd in the NL with 18.1 fWAR.
YOU’RE SO GOLDEN: Second baseman Bryson Stott ranked T-4th among all players in Major League Baseball with 17 Outs Above Average (with PIT’s Ke’Bryan Hayes) – the only players in MLB with more OAA than Stott were CHI’s SS Dansby Swanson (20 OAA), SF’s INF Thairo Estrada (19 OAA) and CLE’s 2B Andres Gimenez (18 OAA) – CHI 2B Nico Hoerner trailed Stott with 15 OAA and Stott (7 DRS) ranked ahead of Estrada (2 DRS) in Defensive Runs Saved … Stott led all National League second baseman in games played (148) and total chances (602) and he ranked 2nd in innings at the position (1294.1), trailing only ATL’s Ozzie Albies (1314.0) … Stott made only 5 errors and posted a .992 fielding percentage … He set a franchise record earlier this season when he began his career with 84 consecutive games at second base without an error, eclipsing the previous mark held by Tomas Perez (57 G) from 2001-02.
SAINT NICK: Nick Castellanos played 148 games in right field this season (1292.1 total innings) and he had 10 outfield assists with 0 errors in 264 total chances … He is the first Phillies outfielder with 250+ total chances and 0 errors in the outfield since Shane Victorino in 2011 (296 TC, 0 errors) … Castellanos is only the third outfielder in Phillies history to complete a season with 10+ outfield assists and 0 errors, joining Victorino in 2006 (11 assists, 0 errors) and Johnny Callison in 1968 (10 assists, 0 errors) … Since 1901, Castellanos is only the 3rd MLB right fielder to play in 100 games with 10+ assists and 0 errors: BAL’s Nick Markakis (2x, 2011 & 2014) and Callison in 1968.
HATS OFF TO YOU, THOMS: Phils’ skipper Rob Thomson, the 56th manager in Phillies history, is the only one of those 56 to reach the postseason in their first two seasons as manager of the Phillies … Per Baseball Reference, there have been 838 managers in MLB history – of those 838, Thomson is one of only 13 to reach the postseason in their first two seasons as a manager (per Elias) … In chronological order, he is joined by John Schneider (2022-23), Rocco Baldelli (2019-20), Aaron Boone (2018-19), Jeff Banister (2015-16), Mike Matheny (2012-13), Ron Gardenhire (2002- 03), Bob Brenly (2001-02), Larry Dierker (1997-98), Ralph Houk (1961-62), Mickey Cochrane (1934- 35), Bucky Harris (1924-25) and Hughie Jennings (1907-08) … Since Thomson took over on June 3, 2022, the Phillies are 155-118 with a .568 winning percentage that ranks T-6th in MLB.
TONIGHT’S STARTER – ZACK WHEELER • RHP #45
2023: 13-6, 3.61 ERA Career: 87-63, 3.45 ERA
LAST START: 9/28 vs PIT: ND, 4.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, BB, 5 SO (67 pitches, 45 strikes) … Wheeler vs Ortiz … The Phillies fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-2, in the final regular season home game at CBP in 2023 … Kyle Schwarber led off the game with a home run and inched closer to the franchise record for walks in a single season … Craig Kimbrel worked a scoreless 9th (2 SO) and is now only 7 strikeouts shy of tying Billy Wagner for 4th place among all relief pitchers in strikeouts since at least 1893.
TONIGHT’S START:
- Legend of the Fall: Making his 7th postseason start, his first 6 came last season … Posted a 2.78 ERA (11 ER, 35.2 IP) with 33 strikeouts, 7 walks and 2 HR … Faced 135 batters and held them to a .153/.222/.226 slash line (.448 OPS) … His .448 OPS against was the 5th-best in MLB history (min. 30.0 IP) for a single postseason behind only Madison Bumgarner in 2014 (.407), Curt Schilling in 2001 (.435), Orel Hershiser in 1988 (.439) and Randy Johnson in 2001 (.439) … Posted a 0.73 WHIP (19 H) which also ranks 5th in MLB history for a single postseason, trailing only Schilling in 2001 (0.64), Bumgarner in 2014 (0.65), Josh Beckett in 2007 (0.70) and Don Sutton in 1974 (0.70) … Only 1 of his 6 postseason starts came at home (10/23 vs SD) … In that game, Wheeler went 6.0 IP with 2 ER, 0 BB and 8 SO.
- Right On Schedule: This year, when pitching on 4 days rest, Wheeler is 6-1 in 10 starts with a 2.09 ERA (16 ER, 69.0 IP) … When pitching on longer rest than 4 days, he has a 4.46 ERA (61 ER, 123.0 IP) in 21 starts.
- 100 With the Phils: Made his 100th start for the Phillies on Sept. 23 vs NYM … In his first 100 starts with the club, he was 43-25 with a 3.07 ERA (213 ER, 625.1 IP) with 670 strikeouts to 134 walks and a 1.05 WHIP … Since earned runs have been an official stat (1912), Wheeler has the 5th-best ERA among any Phillies pitcher in their first 100 starts with the club … He trails only Jim Bunning (2.62), Cliff Lee (2.81), Steve Carlton (2.91) and Larry Jackson (3.02) … His 670 strikeouts are also the 2nd most by a Phillies pitcher in their first 100 starts, trailing only Cliff Lee (712) and his 43 wins are tied with Aaron Nola, Cole Hamels and Robin Roberts for the 12th most.
- 200: Wheeler had 2 strikeouts on the season … It is the 2nd season of his career with 200 strikeouts (other: 2021) … Aaron Nola reached 200 strikeouts on 9/26 and it is the 2nd season in which they’ve both had 200 strikeouts … They join Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee, who both did so in 2012 and 2013, as the only Phillies pitching tandem to have two seasons in which they each struck out 200 or more batters … They are one of 3 pitching duos in baseball this year to each have 200 or more strikeouts
- Quality Control: Wheeler earned 21 quality starts this year, which ranked 2nd in the National League … It is the 3rd season of his career with 20 quality starts and the first since 2021 … He tied 2014 for his most in a season … He earned one in 12 of his last 15 outings … His quality start streak from 7/7-8/15 marked the 3rd time in his career he has had at least a 7-game streak with a quality start and first time since 5/6-6/16/21 … He was one of 14 ML pitchers to do so this year
- Stop the WAR: Wheeler led all NL pitchers in fWAR with 5.9 and was T-10th among all major leaguers … Since he signed with the Phillies as a free agent (since 2020), Wheeler ranks 1st among all pitchers in MLB in fWAR at 19.3 and he leads Corbin Burnes who ranks 2nd at 17.9, Kevin Gausman ranks 3rd (17.4), Aaron Nola 4th (16.6) and Gerrit Cole 5th (15.1)
- In the Zone: On the year, Wheeler’s 5.0% walk rate ranked T-5th among NL pitchers with at least 100.0 IP … It was the lowest walk rate of his career (previous best: 5.4%, 2021) … Wheeler had 20 starts this year in which he threw at least 5.0 IP while walking 1 or no batters, which ranked T-5th in MLB (most: Logan Webb, 23) … It was a new career-high for most such starts in a single season (previous best: 18, 2021) … In 7 starts from 7/1-8/8 (43.2 IP), Wheeler walked only 3 batters … It is the first time in his career that he walked 3 or fewer batters in a 7-game span • Zack With a K: Wheeler’s SO/BB rate of 5.44 is the 4th best in MLB and 2nd in the NL … It is currently the best SO/BB rate of any season in his career (2nd best: 2021, 5.37) … Wheeler had the 4th most SO in the NL with 212
- Statcast Rankings: 97th percentile in extension, 93rd percentile in walk rate, 88th percentile in xERA and average exit velocity, 87th percentile in barrel rate, 83rd percentile in chase rate, 77th percentile in fastball velocity and 75th percentile in SO rate
- Pitch Usage: 4-seam fastball (43.3%), Sinker (18.2%), Slider (14.4%), Sweeper (12.1%), Curveball (11.4%), Changeup (0.4%)
- vs NL EAST: 44-33, 3.53 ERA (265 ER, 676.1 IP) in 110 starts HOME:
- 2023: 5-2, 4.13 ERA (41 ER, 89.1 IP) in 15 starts
- Career: 41-33, 3.46 ERA (268 ER, 697.0 IP) in 113 starts
- CBP (career): 25-11, 2.78 ERA (118 ER, 381.1 IP) in 60 starts
2023 SEASON:
- In his 2 starts from 8/26-9/1, Wheeler became the 3rd Phillies pitcher in the Modern Era (since 1901) with back-to-back starts with 10+ strikeouts and no walks (others: Cole Hamels, 8/1-7/10; Curt Schilling, 9/15-21/96) … Wheeler is the second ML pitcher to do so this season (other: Zac Gallen, 4/21-26)
- On 8/26, Wheeler earned his 10th win of the season … He has earned 10+ wins in 6 seasons and has done so in every season with at least 20 starts … Wheeler has earned double-digit wins in 3 straight seasons for the first time in his career
- Took a no-hitter into the 8th inning on 6/8 vs DET which was the longest no-hit bid of his career (previous: 6.1 innings on 7/30/13 vs MIA)
- Reached 10 years of ML service on Sunday (6/11) vs LAD
- Recorded his 18th career double-digit strikeout game and 10th as a Phillie on 5/27 at ATL
- Made his 200th career start on 4/23 vs COL
- Racked up a career-high 24 swings and misses on 8/26 vs STL
