The Philadelphia Phillies start Zack Wheeler, who matched a career high in strikeouts as a "reminder" to MLB after being left off the All-Star roster.
For some reason that no one can really explain, Philadelphia Phillies superstar pitcher Zack Wheeler wasn’t named an All-Star for the 2026 season.
He was even left off the roster again when MLB announced three replacements for the National League’s pitching staff after three players opted out of the Midsummer Classic.
Wheeler wanted to make sure everyone in MLB knew just how elite he still is, as on Tuesday evening, he put together one of the best starts of his career, even at age 36 and months removed from major shoulder surgery.
Wheeler pitched 7.0 innings of flawless innings against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. He allowed only four hits, gave up one earned run on a solo home run by Eugenio Suarez, and issued no walks.
The right-hander also became the sixth pitcher in franchise history to strike out 14 or more batters and issue no walks in a game.
The big takeaway from this outing, though, was Wheeler’s 14 strikeouts, which tied a career-high.
This start was Wheeler’s first since being left off the All-Star roster. Did his being left off the roster twice give him a little more motivation and spark on the mound?
It appears so.
Jul 7, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) prepares to throw against the Cincinnati Reds in the seventh inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images“I feel like that's kind of a reminder. For whoever needs to be reminded,” Wheeler said postgame.
“It pisses me off because, it's kind of BS. Maybe if I wasn't necessarily right in there, I wouldn't be saying this, but I feel like I've earned it… just because I pitch on a certain day, I can't pitch an All-Star game or even be there.”
Wheeler acknowledged that it’s not necessary to pitch in the game, but he received the honor of being named an All-Star, which he feels he’s earned.
At this point, it’s hard to see MLB making any exception to get Wheeler onto the roster, which is a shame given his stats. It’s even more disheartening that Wheeler won’t get to be acknowledged in front of his home ballpark during the Midsummer Classic.
Wheeler now owns a 2.28 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP after his start against the Reds. If those numbers hold, they’d be the best of his 13-season career, and are certainly All-Star numbers.
Unfortunately, Wheeler won’t be recognized for it.
Phillies Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Phillies. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
