Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler called out the Toronto Blue Jays after their hitting coach was ejected Friday for complaining about Wheeler being off the pitching rubber.
"I mean, I'm gonna keep doing what I do," Wheeler said after Philadelphia's 5-4 loss, per NBC Sports Philadelphia. "I've been pitching over there forever and I'm gonna keep doing it. They've lost a lot of games over there, so they're probably trying to pick some things up to complain about."
The Blue Jays are 55-62 and last in the AL East after losing in the World Series last year. Philadelphia is 62-55 and second in the NL East.
Toronto's David Popkins was tossed in the fourth inning.
It's only Game 1 of the series... 👀 pic.twitter.com/REm9kxS4Ri
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) August 8, 2026
Wheeler explained the lead-up to the ejection.
"I saw them talking after the first or second, (Blue Jays manager John) Schneider and the umpire (John Tumpane), then (Tumpane) told me to make sure I stay on the rubber," Wheeler detailed. "I threw one TV game earlier this year and I guess MLB thought I was off the rubber, but we have the data to show that I was on.
"I saw them talk again after that inning, and so when I went out there, I was just getting my hands checked and (the umpire) was there, so I was like, 'Hey, just appreciate if you don't see anything, just don't say anything.' He kind of just said that MLB has me on a list, and so it is what it is."
Wheeler gave up four runs on seven hits with a season-high five walks in 5 1/3 innings.
"Wheeler is an unbelievable pitcher and has been for a long time," Schneider said, according to Sportsnet. "I have all the respect in the world for him, and you guys all know how I feel about (Phillies manager) Don Mattingly. We were just getting information that his foot was off the rubber ... on the first base side from video angles with that little step back from the windup, and I'm just gonna do everything I can to protect my guys."
