Irked Wheeler lets All-Star snub fuel Phils' win
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- Zack Wheeler (9-1) tied a career high with 14 strikeouts over seven innings and 104 pitches, allowing four hits, one earned run, and zero walks in the Phillies' 4-1 win over the Reds.
- Kyle Schwarber launched his MLB-leading 31st home run of the season — a two-run shot in the third inning — and backed Wheeler publicly, saying of the All-Star snub, 'It just sucks that we have to deal with it.'
- MLB added Braxton Ashcraft (Pirates), Riley O'Brien (Cardinals), and Jesus Luzardo (Phillies) to the NL All-Star roster the same day, but notably did not include Wheeler, who said the decision 'pisses me off, and it's kind of BS.'
- Wheeler pointed out the midsummer classic will be played at his home field, Citizens Bank Park, next Tuesday, adding, 'You figure they would have a clue about it by now, with how many All-Star Games they've had.'
- Jhoan Duran earned his 22nd save by striking out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning, sealing the Phillies' victory.
- Trea Turner opened the scoring with an RBI groundout in the third and added a sacrifice-fly run in the eighth (driven in by Edmundo Sosa), while Derek Hill doubled and Justin Crawford singled to set the table for the Phillies' three-run third.
- Reds starter Andrew Abbott (5-5) took the loss after pitching six innings with eight strikeouts, surrendering five hits and three earned runs.
Why it matters: The All-Star Game will be played at Wheeler's own ballpark next week, turning his omission into a public relations problem for MLB — Phillies players and fans will see their ace excluded on home soil. Wheeler's three-time All-Star resume and league-leading case make the snub hard to justify, and the Phillies' dominant win on the same day the roster was announced turned the conversation from 'who got picked' to 'who got left out.'
