"We have the right guy." Don Mattingly's Five Words Tell You Everything About Zack Wheeler's Return

Holy smokes, did you catch what Zack Wheeler pulled off against Paul Skenes yesterday? Phillies manager Don Mattingly dropped some serious truth bombs before the game, saying their pitcher needed to match Skenes pitch-for-pitch. That's the kind of confidence you love to see, especially when it pays off in a massive 6-0 win against the Pirates at PNC Park!

Wheeler's Absolute Masterclass Against Skenes

Mattingly wasn't messing around when he said, "We have the right guy," and Wheeler proved him right by a mile. Dude was absolutely lights out, throwing seven scoreless innings in that 81-degree heat he apparently loves. He only gave up four hits and racked up eight strikeouts. Seriously, he retired the first five batters he faced before an infield single in the second. The Pirates only got a runner in scoring position once against him, in the sixth, when Brandon Lowe doubled with two outs. That's just insane control!

And get this, his fastball was clocked as high as 97.8 mph. After thoracic outlet decompression surgery, that kind of velo is a huge statement. His ERA is now down to a ridiculous 1.99. Mattingly called watching him a "good feeling" and Wheeler himself said he felt great and had to step up against Skenes, who he called one of the best. Even Pirates manager Don Kelly was blown away, saying Wheeler's velocity was trending upward and he was keeping it on the edges, mixing in offspeed stuff perfectly. Wheeler looks completely recovered, and that's a problem for the rest of the league, for sure.

The Phillies Offense Finally Breaks Through

While Wheeler was shutting it down, Skenes started strong, striking out the side in the first. For a minute there, it looked like he might dominate. But the Phillies lineup, man, they just kept battling. As Mattingly noted, they fought for pitches and didn't give Skenes quick outs. And then, in the fifth and sixth innings, they broke through big time!

Adolis García scored the first run on a groundout from Justin Crawford. Trea Turner then singled to right, scoring J.T. Realmuto. That was just the start. Bryce Harper led off the next frame with a HUGE home run. Skenes couldn't get anybody out after that, allowing a single to Alex Bohm and a double to Brandon Marsh, which finally sent him to the dugout. Isaac Mattson came in, but Bryson Stott welcomed him with a two-run double. Turner said they caught some mistakes and used that momentum to their advantage, putting pressure on Skenes. Talk about seizing the moment!

So, the Phillies swept the three-game series and are now a game over .500 at 24-23. You gotta remember, they were 9-19 when Mattingly took over as interim manager back on April 28. That's a serious turnaround! Trea Turner summed it up best, saying they feel good and knew they were capable of this. They're playing good team ball and looking to keep stacking those wins. What a showing! Catch you for the next one, stay fired up!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.