Phillies' Wheeler: D-Backs aren't a team you want to get swept by
The National League East is wide-open and yet the Philadelphia Phillies are losing to teams they shouldn't lose to - at least, according to their ace.
"This is a team you don't want to get swept by," Zack Wheeler told Matt Gelb of The Athletic following Philadelphia's three-game sweep at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks. "It's just true. We have to take it personal."
The Phillies, now sitting 61-60 and four games back of the first-place Atlanta Braves, were outscored 13-6 over the series in Arizona. The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, sit dead last in the National League at 41-81 with a minus-166 run differential.
Wheeler, a Cy Young contender this season, started the final game of the series Thursday. The 31-year-old right-hander allowed six runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out seven over 6 2/3 innings. Wheeler's frustration was noticeable as he was removed from the contest, yelling at home plate umpire Tom Hallion, according to Gelb.
For the season, Wheeler owns a 2.77 ERA and 2.53 FIP over 25 starts.
The Phillies begin a three-game set against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Friday.