Zack Wheeler’s dominant eight innings powers Phillies’ victory over the Braves, 2-1

ATLANTA — In his bullpen session this week, Zack Wheeler decided to try something different. He had struggled with his command in his previous starts. Bullpens can be somewhat monotonous, but Wheeler wanted to challenge himself.

So, he hit specific spots. He aimed glove side, arm side, and up — pitching to a triangle shape — over about 25-35 pitches.

“That way, you’re not comfortable hitting one spot,” Wheeler said. “You’ve got to keep it locked in and moving around.”

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He simulated in-game situations. He thought about which pitch he would make to which hitter. He visualized a hitter standing in the box. And on Saturday, in the Phillies 2-1 win over the Braves, he saw some results. Wheeler hasn’t looked like himself this season. We’ve seen glimpses, but nothing close to the dominance he’s shown in years past. But against the Braves, he showed dominance.

Wheeler gave his team eight innings of crisp, shutout baseball. It was longest outing of the season thus far. He sustained his velocity, hitting 97 mph at late as the sixth. He allowed just three hits and no runs with 12 strikeouts — a season high — against a formidable Braves lineup. But what really stuck out was his command.

He was able to move his fastball wherever he wanted to. He could sink it, cut it, throw it up, throw it down. He didn’t allow a walk until the seventh inning.

“We really worked hard this last bullpen on working up, hitting my spots a little better,” Wheeler said. “Getting behind the ball a little better. I think today showed what we worked on. Now, we’ve just got to continue that through the next few starts.”

His timing was impeccable. The Phillies needed a shutdown performance. They jumped on Braves starter Charlie Morton — tagging him for seven hits and two earned runs with four walks — but managed no earned runs and just two hits, with one walk, off the Braves’ relievers. But beyond that, the long-term ramifications of a dominant Wheeler would be significant.

The Phillies’ lack of starting pitching depth has been tested early this season. They didn’t have a fifth starter as of a week ago. Ranger Suarez hasn’t looked like Ranger Suarez, and Aaron Nola hasn’t looked like Aaron Nola. If Zack Wheeler could look like Zack Wheeler — if the Phillies could have at least one starter to run out, who isn’t somewhat of a question mark — that would alleviate a lot of their starting pitching struggles.

“I think rotations are like anything else,” said manager Rob Thomson. “Once a couple of guys get going, they sort of feed off of each other. It becomes a trend. So, that’s who he is. He’s a horse.”

Turner had another promising day at the plate on Saturday. He went 2-for-5 with an RBI and one strikeout. He says he has felt his at-bats have been better over the past two games — but particularly on Saturday.

“The stats aren’t super crazy but the quality of at-bats are a lot better,” Turner said. “I’m putting the ball in play, doing what I want. I feel much better. Feel more confident. Feel like I got something towards.”

“I’m getting there. Definitely the last two days were a lot better. I really liked today. I made another adjustment and felt really good. So stick with that tomorrow and keep trying to be consistent.”

In the bottom of the fourth inning, and a runner on second, Marcell Ozuna hit a two-out liner to Alec Bohm. Bohm made a diving spot and from his knees, nailed Ozuna at first base. If he hadn’t made that play, the game could’ve ended differently. Craig Kimbrel entered in relief of Wheeler in the ninth inning, and gave up a solo home run to cut the Phillies’ lead from 2-0 to 2-1.

“Huge,” Thomson said of Bohm’s play.” Huge. That was a great play. And presence of mind to stay on the ground and skip it over to first base, because he knew he had time. Just a huge play.”