For Zack Wheeler, this did not count.
The next one will.
The Phillies’ big offseason pitching acquisition made its final tune-up before the regular season in an exhibition game against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday night.
The Phillies lost the game, 5-1.
It is no problem. It was just practice.
Wheeler was not particularly sharp in 4⅓ innings of work. He allowed four hits, including a home run, and two runs. He walked one, hit a hitter, and threw a wild pitch on his way to 86 pitches.
“We were looking for five ups and downs and our target was 85 pitches,” manager Joe Girardi said. “His arm strength was good. His breaking ball was not as sharp as before. But he fought it and kept us in the game.”
“Sharpness was my concern with these guys because they would have very few starts. But we are not concerned. Zack was excellent in his last start.”
Wheeler will make his official debut for the Phillies in Game 2 of the regular season on Saturday night against the Marlins. That, however, could change because he and his wife are expecting their first child in the coming days.
Assuming Wheeler starts Game 2 of the season, he will follow Aaron Nola, who is queuing to start the game on Friday night.
How the Phillies line up their pitch after that is a question that gained some intrigue on Sunday night.
Jake Arrieta was supposed to start the third game of the regular season.
But on Sunday night, Girardi announced that Vince Velasquez would start Monday night’s exhibition game in New York at Yankee Stadium. That would put Velásquez in line to launch Game 3 of the regular season.
Arrieta will be delayed to an in-school game Wednesday in Philadelphia. That would put Arrieta in line to launch Game 4 of the regular season in New York against the Yankees.
Girardi was vague in his reasoning for the pitching lineup, saying he didn’t want Velásquez to be too long between starts.
Without personal access to players due to COVID-19 protocols, it was impossible to speak to Velásquez or Arrieta to try to gain more clarity.
The bottom line is that it looks like Velásquez will be in the rotation.
The availability of Zach Eflin the first time through rotation remains in the air. He was delayed by a bad back and will be tested in a simulated game on Thursday. If he can’t start the first time, Nick Pivetta could go inside. We think. But all this could change if Baby Wheeler arrives. Maybe it would be better if we all sat down and let this happen. Nah, that’s not fun.
Some articles of interest on Sunday:
• Roman Quinn, hit by a wrist pitch on Saturday, is fine. It will play in New York on Monday.
• Girardi’s lineup featured Bryce Harper in second place in the batting order. Harper had hit third the night before in Washington. JT Realmuto did not play in that game. He played against the Orioles on Sunday and followed Harper into the lineup with designated hitter Jay Bruce fourth. Rhys Hoskins hit fifth, Didi Gregorius sixth, Jean Segura seventh, Scott Kingery eighth and Adam Haseley ninth. Andrew McCutchen left.
That is not a bad looking lineup.
Girardi said he will continue to experiment.
• Bruce, Harper and McCutchen will not be making the trip to New York on Monday night. Other than that, the Phils are taking on a regular crew, including Realmuto.
• Prospect Alec Bohm, a natural third baseman who remains an interesting prospect on the road at first base, got some time in the position late in the game and did a good first on a ball on the ground.
• Girardi managed the Yankees from 2008 to 2017. Monday night will mark the first time he has returned to Yankee Stadium in any capacity since his club tenure.
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