How Adaptability and Consistency Fuel the Phillies’ Pitching Staff, Both During the Highs and the Lows

If there’s one thing the Phillies have been able to consistently rely on for the past few seasons, it would undoubtedly be their starting pitching. There’s been an unimaginable number of starting outfielders, some shifting of the infield starters, and there’s always a new face frequenting the bullpen. But with top-of-the-line starters like Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, Ranger Suarez, and even Zach Eflin, the Phillies have always been lucky to have a starting rotation with multiple reliable arms.

This season, that trend is no different, but what’s unique is the fluidity of who is actually reliable. When one pitcher hits his peak, another seems to be in the depths of a valley.

Right now, that story could be applied to Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola.

Wheeler got a late start to his season after returning from a thrombolysis procedure in the offseason, making one of the most incredible comebacks to date. In his first 16 starts, Wheeler had a 2.16 ERA, marking the best start of a season in his already impressive career. However, he’s had some struggles recently.

In his July 27 start against the Marlins, Wheeler allowed five runs on six hits in only three innings of work. What was most concerning was a noticeable dip in Wheeler’s velocity, with his fastball sitting at only 93 mph. After his injury in 2025, Wheeler’s fastball certainly doesn’t have the same giddy-up, but this velocity dip was both drastic and sudden, causing some fans to become alarmed.

His next start was cut short due to a weather delay in the top of the third inning. Against the Blue Jays on August 7, he allowed four runs in 5.1 innings, but this came after a nearly two-hour rain delay. Once again, Wheeler delivered subpar results, but many ignored the poor stat line, assuming his rhythm had been disrupted by the delay. Most recently, in his start against the Cardinals, Wheeler allowed five runs, only four of which were earned, in a five-inning start. His ERA in August ballooned to 5.84, and now it’s being questioned whether the Phillies’ ace may be dealing with another injury

“It’s a frustrating day,” Wheeler said in a postgame interview after losing the Game 3 rubber match against the Cardinals. “It’s just one of those games that you kind of have to forget, put in your rearview mirror and just go forward.”

Luckily, Wheeler is unfazed by his recent struggles. He mentioned that something had felt off after his start against Toronto, and that continued in St. Louis.

“[I’m] just a little out of whack right now,” Wheeler said. “[I] just have to get that figured out and kind of dig into it to see what’s going on.”

Amid Wheeler’s recent struggles, Aaron Nola has started to pick up some of the slack, slowly turning around what has inarguably been the worst season of his career. In his last four starts, Nola has a 2.90 ERA. He was given the ball for the Field of Dreams game on Thursday, and he struck out nine batters over five innings of one-run baseball. He is not pitching at the elite level of Zack Wheeler, but he’s been keeping the Phillies in games and giving the offense a chance to take command. From a third or fourth starter, there’s not much else to ask for.

And of course, Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo have continued to be the epitome of consistency. Luzardo, in particular, has been one of baseball’s best in recent weeks, posting a 2.01 ERA in his last nine starts. Sanchez, despite his two rough starts in July, has been lights-out in August, allowing one earned run and tallying 24 strikeouts through three starts.

Two years ago, if someone had said that Jesus Luzardo and Cristopher Sanchez would be the Phillies’ two most reliable starters in August 2026, many people would have had some serious concerns. But this rotation’s ability to adapt is fueled entirely by its depth, giving manager Don Mattingly plenty of options when it’s time for Red October’s return.

In fact, the Phillies have played in only three series this season where none of their pitchers have thrown at least five innings while allowing two or fewer runs. That means that in 92.5% of their series, at least one pitcher has delivered a start in which he allowed two or fewer runs in five or more innings.

That said, many fans and analysts are pushing the Phillies aside in talks about competitive playoff teams, citing their poor performances in recent playoff series and their lackluster 2026 season, as they are just nine games over .500 and fighting for an NL Wild Card spot. However, this underwhelming season has been defined by offensive inconsistencies and uncertainties in the bullpen, yet recent trends have shown that starting pitching is what wins championships.

And that, there’s no doubt, is where the Phillies thrive.

Get new articles emailed right to your inbox.