How watching Jacob deGrom helped the Phillies’ Zack Wheeler harness his fastball

Wheeler, who will start Game 5 of the NLCS, says he adopted a routine from his former teammate's bullpen sessions that made a big difference.

Former Mets teammates Jacob deGrom and Zack Wheeler in 2019. Wheeler says watching the Mets ace helped his development.Read moreJeff Roberson / AP

by Scott Lauber

Published Oct. 22, 2022, 7:06 p.m. ET

There are notable similarities in the pitching styles of Zack Wheeler and Jacob deGrom.

It isn’t a coincidence.

Wheeler, who will start Sunday for the Phillies in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, admitted he harnessed his fastball command by watching deGrom when they were teammates with the New York Mets.

”He threw a couple bullpens in between each start, and one bullpen would literally just be 10 or so glove-side fastballs. That was it,” Wheeler said. “And then the next day, he’d do his normal bullpen, and then he’d start off the next day doing the exact same thing.

”I really concentrated on doing that, and ever since, I’ve been able to command for the most part that side of the plate. And I think my command all around got a lot better because that is the hardest pitch to throw — a glove-side fastball — pretty consistent.”

Wheeler and deGrom have nearly identical repertoires, right down to their upper-90s fastballs. The ace right-handers also feature nasty sliders and while sprinkling in curveballs and the occasional changeup.

Two years ago, as Wheeler was ascending to the top of the Phillies’ rotation, former Mets pitching coach Dave Eiland likened him to deGrom, a comparison Wheeler welcomes.

”He’s one of the best pitchers, if not the best,” Wheeler said. “You try to take some things from that.”