5 Phillies players poised for 2021 All-Star consideration

4. Aaron Nola

When the top-half of the Phillies rotation is performing as well as it has so far this season, you would think at least one of their pitchers would make the All-Star roster. Right-handers Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, and Zach Eflin have combined to throw 136 2/3 innings — more than any other starter trio in Major League Baseball.

Before Nola made the All-Star Game in 2018, the most recent Phillies starting pitchers to earn nods were southpaw Cliff Lee (2013) and Cole Hamels (2012). The last time multiple Phillies rotation arms made the Midsummer Classic was during the franchise-best 102-win season in 2011 — Roy Halladay, Hamels, and Lee.

Making his 75th career start at Citizens Bank Park earlier this week, Nola set a record for most double-digit strikeout games in venue history.

National League Qualified Pitcher Ranks:

• Wins: 3 (Tied, 7th)
• ERA: 2.89 (18th)
• Shutouts: 1 (Tied, 1st)
• Innings Pitched: 43 2/3 (Tied, 4th)
• Fewest Home Runs Allowed: 3 (Tied, 6th)
• Strikeouts: 49 (Tied, 6th)

5. Zack Wheeler

Seven-year veteran Zack Wheeler has never been an All-Star, not even during his five-season stint with the New York Mets from 2013-14 and 2017-19. Wheeler is off to another strong showing in a Phillies uniform in 2021, going 3-2 with a 2.83 ERA, 0.965 WHIP, and 49-12 strikeouts-to-walks ratio through 47 2/3 innings and seven starts.

National League Qualified Pitcher Ranks:

• Wins: 3 (Tied, 7th)
• ERA: 2.83 (17th)
• Shutouts: 1 (Tied, 1st)
• Innings Pitched: 47 2/3 (1st)
• Strikeouts: 49 (Tied, 6th)
• WHIP: 0.97 (13th)