Zack Wheeler proving to be Phillies’ most valuable player

The Philadelphia Phillies had the perfect pitcher on the mound Sunday to try and snap their season-high four-game losing streak — Zack Wheeler.

The veteran right-hander knew his team needed him to dominate and that it was a big game for the team overall, adding: “It popped in my head last night after the loss that we need to get back on the right track and it comes down to me.”

Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler is exceeding expectations this season.

Wheeler did not disappoint. Tossing 7 1/3 innings on 98 pitches, he allowed just three hits, and one run and walk each, while striking out 12 of his 27 batters faced. The Phillies ended up winning 6-2 — helping Wheeler improve to 4-2 on the season while lowering his ERA to 2.38 and WHIP to 0.94 through 10 starts this season.

According to Elias Sports, Wheeler became the first Phillies pitcher with an ERA below 2.50 and a WHIP below 1.00 in his first 10 starts of a season since the late Roy Halladay exactly one decade ago (2.21 ERA and 0.98 WHIP).

Earlier this season, Wheeler also became the first Phillies pitcher to face the minimum through eight innings since Halladay’s perfect game on May 29, 2010. He went on to record his second career complete-game shutout in a 2-0 home win against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Phillies are 4-0 in Wheeler’s last four starts dating back to the shutout. Over this span, he has allowed just three earned runs while striking out 37 batters.

Without Wheeler on Sunday, the Phillies could have easily lost their fifth straight game while going 1-5 on the homestead. With the help of Brad Miller‘s three-run home run, Wheeler almost single-handedly ensured that the team would not suffer a loss on Sunday.

Wheeler clearly is the “Phillies ace” currently, but that does not mean Aaron Nola deserves criticism for not “stepping up to the plate” as much as he should this season. Wheeler has been mentioned In the same breath as Halladay this season, meaning he has just been that special and essentially the “most valuable player” for the team thus far.