Entering his biggest start, Wheeler explains how Realmuto has made him a better pitcher originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
ST. LOUIS — There was a moment in Zack Wheeler‘s last start Sunday afternoon in Washington when things were getting a little hairy.
The Phillies were up, 1-0, in the bottom of the third inning. The Nationals had runners on the corners with no outs. It was an important game for the Phillies in the middle of a playoff chase and it was time for a big play.
Wheeler did his part by striking out Riley Adams and J.T. Realmuto did his by gunning down Victor Robles as he tried to steal second.
Later that afternoon, manager Rob Thomson called the strike-’em-out-throw-’em-out twin killing “the play of the game.” The Phillies won, 8-1, and took a big step toward the place they will be Friday afternoon — a first-round playoff game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Wheeler struck out Robles swinging at a 2-2 four-seam fastball, 96 mph, perfectly executed up in the zone, above the barrel of the bat.
He was able to execute that pitch with precision because the mechanics of his delivery were perfect.
And the mechanics of his delivery were perfect because he trusted Realmuto to handle the running game.
“Throwing to J.T. has really allowed me to do a better job with runners on base,” Wheeler said. “I’m able to stay mechanically sound which allows me to make the best pitch I possibly can because I’m not rushing to the plate.
“I can stay back on the mound. That was always my biggest thing, leaning forward and going and I’d miss arm side or pull the ball. With J.T. back there, I don’t have to be quick because I know he’s got it.”
Wheeler’s performance with runners on base this season has been excellent. He held hitters to a .215 batting average and a .563 OPS with runners on base, a big improvement over .261/.725 in 2021.
The 2020 season, Wheeler’s first with the Phillies, was shortened to 60 games. With the Mets in 2019, Wheeler’s opponents’ batting average and OPS were .262/.713. The year before, they were .268/.725.
Shortly after signing with the Phillies before the 2020 season, Wheeler said Realmuto was one of the reasons he wanted to come to Philadelphia.
“I could always see what a good athlete and baseball player he was,” Wheeler said. “But I didn’t realize how much he’d help me with runners on base. That was something I learned later.
“I really rely on him for his game-calling and ability to control the running…