Zack Wheeler showcased his pitching prowess in the opening game of the NL Division Series on Saturday, striking 99 mph and throwing all 11 of his pitches for strikes in the first inning. The Philadelphia Phillies’ ace dominated his former team, the New York Mets, with nine strikeouts and 30 swings-and-misses over 111 pitches in seven shutout innings.
Wheeler’s performance highlighted his ability to avoid mistakes in critical playoff moments. He allowed just one hit before being pulled from the game, with the Phillies leading 1-0. However, the team’s fortunes changed abruptly after his departure.
The extended five-day break before the game may have contributed to the Phillies’ struggles, a scenario that has affected other high-performing teams in past seasons. The Mets, buoyed by a late-season surge, maintained control offensively and managed to neutralize Philadelphia’s lineup. The Mets went on to score five runs in the eighth inning, aided by relievers Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm, sealing a 6-2 victory in Game 1.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson expressed his disappointment over the bullpen’s collapse, saying, “It was stunning … But that’s baseball sometimes.” He did, however, commend Wheeler for his exceptional outing.
During the game, Kyle Schwarber hit a leadoff home run, propelling the Phillies to an early lead. Schwarber has now accumulated 21 career playoff homers, ranking fourth among players with the most postseason leadoff home runs. However, after Schwarber’s early success, the team faltered offensively, with the next 19 batters failing to record a hit.
Key players such as Trea Turner and Alec Bohm had disappointing games, each finishing without a hit, while Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos contributed minimally. Harper acknowledged the team’s missed opportunity, emphasizing the need for better plate discipline and execution.
This loss marked the first time the Phillies have dropped a Game 1 in any postseason series since 2010. Despite having won previous Wild Card Series and facing off against 100-win teams in the NL Division Series in past seasons, the Phillies could not find their rhythm against the Mets.
Thomson maintained that the team’s poor performance was not due to the time off but rather a matter of execution. Looking forward, the Phillies will send All-Star Cristopher Sánchez to the mound for Game 2, and Harper stressed the importance of moving on from this defeat and focusing on the next opportunity.