A great deal has gone right for the Philadelphia Phillies since the organization made a change in the dugout, dismissing Rob Thomson after 28 games and handing interim managerial duties to Don Mattingly.
Since Mattingly stepped in, the Phillies have emerged as arguably the hottest team in Major League Baseball. They even made history by becoming the first club to climb from 10 games under .500 in April to at least 10 games over .500 before July arrived.
With the roster firing on all cylinders, Philadelphia has rapidly closed the gap on the Atlanta Braves in the National League East race. Confidence inside the clubhouse has surged as the team’s remarkable turnaround continues.
Still, not everyone is completely satisfied with Mattingly’s decisions.
Before the Phillies wrapped up their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 2, the interim skipper revealed that ace Zack Wheeler was giving him the silent treatment following the previous night’s game.
Zack Wheeler Upset With Don Mattingly
“I don’t think he wanted to talk to me yet,” Mattingly said while speaking to reporters in the dugout before the game.
The frustration stems from Philadelphia’s 10-6 victory over Pittsburgh on July 1. Wheeler was removed after just 4.2 innings, leaving the game before he qualified for the win.
The Pirates managed to string together some offense against the veteran right-hander, who allowed nine hits and one walk while surrendering four earned runs, including a solo homer to Henry Davis. Even so, Wheeler piled up 10 strikeouts, causing his pitch count to rise significantly.
That elevated workload played a major role in Mattingly’s decision to turn the game over to the bullpen after Pittsburgh followed two early outs by Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds with three consecutive singles.
“It really doesn’t bother me at all that he’s upset. The great ones don’t want to come…But from my standpoint…He’s at 105 [pitches] in that inning…This is a long-term kind of situation,” Mattingly added while addressing the media before first pitch.
It’s easy to understand why Wheeler was frustrated. Like most elite competitors, he wants to stay on the mound and finish what he started, especially with an opportunity to complete the fifth inning.
At the same time, Mattingly’s reasoning is difficult to dispute. With Philadelphia chasing postseason success, protecting its ace remains the priority. There is little reason to push Wheeler well beyond the 100-pitch threshold in early July when much larger goals remain ahead.
Despite the abbreviated outing, Wheeler continues to enjoy another outstanding campaign. He owns an 8-1 record with a 2.36 ERA, has accumulated 3.8 bWAR, and has struck out 84 batters this season.