The Philadelphia Phillies were dealt an incredibly unfortunate hand when Zack Wheeler was diagnosed with a frightening blood clot in his throwing shoulder, presumably ending his 2025 season. Losing one of the best pitchers in baseball right before the most important stretch of the season is an absolute backbreaker and would crush the World Series hopes of most teams. The Phillies aren't playing like most teams, though.
Their 74-53 record has them on pace to win 90-plus games for the third consecutive season. The 6.5-game division lead they currently hold over the New York Mets is a season high, thanks to their sweep of the Seattle Mariners. That three-game series was an utter domination from start to finish and has their ace's injury feeling like a rallying cry.
Phillies historically dominate in their first series without Zack Wheeler
The team dominated in all facets of the game in one of the best series in the franchise's long history, per MLB.com's Paul Casella. Just about every player on the Phillies' roster contributed in some way, with the stars really stepping up.
The offense racked up over 20 hits twice and 46 total, the most they've accumulated in a three-game set since 1999. Trea Turner continued to prove some Phillies fans wrong by going a scorching 10-for-16 to raise his average to .303 and regain the league lead in hits. Bryce Harper became MLB's first player this season with multiple homers over 440 feet in the same game.
Kyle Schwarber drove in seven runs and homered in his 15th consecutive series, raising his season total to 45 bombs. Then you have J.T. Realmuto continuing his second-half surge by hitting two home runs, including Tuesday's clutch game-winner in the eighth inning.
OH BABY! pic.twitter.com/8UhH1E2MUZ
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 20, 2025
The starting rotation stepped up and then some against a contending Mariners team, with their 34 strikeouts being the most that Phillies starters have had in a three-game series since at least 1900. It all started with Ranger Suárez's best start in over a month, fanning 10 Mariners to tie a career high in strikeouts. No player on the roster's role has been elevated more with Wheeler's injury than Cristopher Sánchez, who is now the obvious option to start Game 1 of a playoff series.
The Cy Young contender delivered like he has all season, with a two-run, 12-strikeout game which was also a career high. Jesús Luzardo was the third straight lefty the Phillies threw against Seattle, and he delivered just like the other two did. Luzardo matched Sánchez's strikeout total with 12 of his own that also amazingly also matched a career best. When Suárez and Luzardo are on, the Phillies have an incredibly fearsome trio to throw at opposing teams in the playoffs.
When everybody on the roster is clicking like this, down to Max Kepler and Bryson Stott at the bottom of the order, the Phillies are unbeatable. Of course, that's an unrealistic expectation especially when the competition toughens in October. For now, the Phillies will look to continue this dominance by accomplishing what they were unable to last weekend by winning their series against the Washington Nationals.