Phillies Expect Wheeler to Rebound After Mechanical Fixes

The Phillies believe Zack Wheeler's recent struggles stem from mechanical issues, not injury. Pitching coach Caleb Cotham says Wheeler is working to make his delivery more automatic. The team is confident a small adjustment will restore his ace-level performance.

Wheeler's numbers since the All-Star break show a stark decline. Across six starts, he has allowed eight home runs and 16 walks while his ERA ballooned to 8.51. His most recent outing against Seattle was particularly rough, as he surrendered nine hits, four homers, and five walks, resulting in eight earned runs.

The Phillies' rotation has been carried by Aaron Nola and Andrew Painter during Wheeler's slump, which has helped the team maintain its No. 2 Wild Card position, just 1.5 games behind the Cubs. Wheeler previously tried adjusting his leg drive, but that change disrupted his off-speed pitches, forcing further tinkering with his mechanics.