The Philadelphia Phillies had the best record in Major League Baseball entering Wednesday at 91-60.
Philadelphia’s ace Zack Wheeler is in the conversation for National League Cy Young, having accrued a stellar 16-6 record and 2.56 ERA in 186 2/3 innings pitched this season.
While Atlanta Braves hurler Chris Sale has widely been considered the favorite for the Cy Young, Phillies superstar Bryce Harper has a bone to pick with such a suggestion.
On Tuesday during an interview with MLB Network from American Family Field, Harper threw his full endorsement behind Wheeler for the Cy Young.
"He's the Cy Young,” Harper said. “I don't care what anybody says. I don't care what the numbers look like. He's the Cy Young. He's the best in baseball, man.”
Bias aside, Wheeler has been spectacular enough to garner consideration alongside Sale. The latest statistical evidence to support Wheeler’s candidacy is his 5.0 WAR, which the 34-year-old reached this week for the third time in four seasons.
According to a report from Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly, Wheeler is only the third pitcher to arrive at 5.0 WAR this season, joining Sale and American League Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal.
“Zack Wheeler is the third pitcher this season to reach 5.0 WAR,” Kelly said.
“He joins Chris Sale (6.4) and Tarik Skubal (5.4). It's Wheeler's third season reaching that mark as a Phillie. He had a 5.9 WAR in 2023, and 7.2 in 2021.”
Whether or not Wheeler ends up ousting Sale for the Cy Young, Wheeler has clearly separated himself as one of the best five starting pitchers in baseball this season.
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