The Philadelphia Phillies head into Wednesday’s matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals knowing that every game carries increasing importance as they continue their push for a National League Wild Card position. With veteran ace Zack Wheeler scheduled to take the mound, Philadelphia will be hoping the right-hander can rediscover his best form and deliver a strong performance in the decisive game of the series.
First pitch is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Wheeler enters the contest with a 10-3 record and a 2.69 ERA, while St. Louis will counter with right-hander Kyle Leahy, who owns an 8-4 record and a 3.45 ERA.
The Phillies opened the series with a 6-5 victory before the Cardinals responded with a 2-0 win in the second game. That leaves Wednesday’s contest as the rubber match, giving both teams an opportunity to claim the series.
For Wheeler, the outing represents another chance to regain consistency after an uneven stretch following the All-Star break.
The veteran pitcher initially appeared to return from the All-Star break in excellent form. In his first start after the Midsummer Classic, Wheeler faced the Los Angeles Dodgers and delivered seven impressive innings. He surrendered only two runs while striking out nine hitters, giving Philadelphia every reason to believe that the right-hander was ready for another dominant second half.
However, his performances since then have been much more inconsistent.
Across his next three starts, Wheeler has managed just 10 1/3 innings while posting a 7.84 ERA. A particularly difficult outing against the Miami Marlins played a major role in those numbers
Against Miami, Wheeler lasted only three innings and gave up five runs. It was an unusually short appearance for a pitcher who has established himself as one of Philadelphia’s most reliable starters. In fact, it marked his shortest start in more than four years.
His fastball velocity was also below his normal season average during that outing, which naturally led to questions about whether something might be bothering him physically. Wheeler, however, dismissed concerns about his health and described the performance as simply one of those difficult days pitchers occasionally experience.
He looked considerably better in his next appearance.
Wheeler faced the Baltimore Orioles and showed improved life on his fastball, with his velocity moving closer to his typical season level. He struck out three batters while completing two scoreless innings. Unfortunately, rain interrupted the game and prevented Wheeler from continuing what appeared to be a promising outing.
His most recent start, against the Toronto Blue Jays, was another test.
Wheeler worked through 5 1/3 innings and surrendered four runs on seven hits. Although he struck out six, he also walked five hitters, matching a level of wildness he had not displayed in a start for several years.
The veteran’s most recent five-walk performance before that came back in April 2019, when he issued seven walks.
Wheeler also needed 15 pitches to battle Nathan Lukes during one lengthy at-bat. The plate appearance eventually ended with a single, keeping Wheeler from completing the sixth inning.
By the end of the contest, Wheeler had thrown 116 pitches, his highest total in a start since 2021.
There was also discussion surrounding whether Wheeler was maintaining proper contact with the pitching rubber during his delivery, adding another layer of attention to an already unusual outing.
Following the game, Wheeler acknowledged that he was tired.
The conditions certainly did not make things easier. The heat, humidity and stagnant air created a challenging environment, and Wheeler admitted that the conditions had taken something out of him. Still, he maintained that he had enough energy remaining late in the outing.
Despite the recent struggles, Wheeler’s overall season statistics remain impressive.
His ERA has risen to 2.69, but that figure still ranks among the best in Major League Baseball. Among starting pitchers who have thrown at least 100 innings this season, Wheeler remains tied for ninth in MLB in ERA.
More encouraging for Philadelphia is the fact that several of Wheeler’s underlying numbers have remained strong.
Since his difficult outing against Miami, the right-hander has done a good job limiting hard contact. His hard-hit rate stands at 33.3%, while his 28.6% whiff rate indicates that he continues to generate plenty of swings and misses.
That could make the Cardinals a favorable opponent for Wheeler as he attempts to get back into his rhythm.
St. Louis has struggled offensively since the All-Star break. The Cardinals rank 25th in MLB during that period with a .648 OPS and have gone 10-15 over that stretch.
However, Philadelphia should not underestimate Leahy.
The Cardinals starter has been particularly effective lately, allowing two runs or fewer in eight consecutive starts. That kind of consistency could make Wednesday’s matchup a fascinating battle between two pitchers trying to establish control of the game.
While the Phillies focus on their Wild Card pursuit, another MLB story involving the Chicago White Sox provided one of the more unusual scenes of the season.
The White Sox hosted a special “Pope Night” at Rate Field on Tuesday, distributing Pope Hats to fans as part of a celebration honoring Pope Leo XIV, who has ties to the Chicago area and is known as a White Sox supporter.
More than 38,000 fans attended the game, making it another sellout for the White Sox. More than 40,000 hats had been prepared for distribution, turning the promotion into one of the club’s most memorable giveaways.
Interestingly, some White Sox players were not fully aware of the promotion beforehand.
But once the game began, the players embraced the occasion.
When Brenton Doyle, Edgar Quero and Miguel Vargas hit solo home runs, they celebrated by putting on the Pope Hats in the home dugout.
The White Sox ultimately failed to complete the celebration with a victory. Chicago surrendered a four-run advantage as Cincinnati rallied for a 5-4 win in 10 innings.
The defeat dropped Chicago’s record to 61-57 and reduced its American League Central advantage over the Detroit Tigers to 2 1/2 games.
Nevertheless, the atmosphere around the stadium remained positive.
Chicago’s 2026 season has already been a major improvement in terms of entertainment and competitiveness following three consecutive seasons in which the club lost more than 100 games.
The White Sox organization also incorporated several other elements into Pope Night.
Chicago White Sox Charities presented a donation to the Midwest Augustinian Province, the religious order associated with Father Robert Prevost, who became Pope Leo XIV. The presentation added a charitable component to an event that was already attracting considerable attention.
Sister Mary Jo Sobieck, a member of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, also threw out the ceremonial first pitch. She became widely known in 2018 after a memorable first pitch involving the ball bouncing off her right biceps went viral.
The night also featured appearances from familiar White Sox figures. Nancy Faust received loud applause whenever she appeared on the stadium scoreboard, while former Chicago pitcher Donn Pall handled the “Play Ball” announcement. Pall was known during his playing days by the nickname “The Pope.”
Fans who had purchased tickets through the special promotion also received Pope Leo XIV jerseys.
The White Sox were careful, however, to ensure the Pope Hat itself remained generic. Team executives explained that the organization wanted to celebrate the pope’s connection to the club while remaining respectful of his position.
The pope’s association with the White Sox has become a unique source of pride for the organization and its supporters. His connection to the team has also generated plenty of attention among players and fans.
Even though the White Sox could not secure a victory on Pope Night, the event demonstrated how sports can bring together a fan base around something memorable and unexpected.
For Philadelphia, meanwhile, the focus shifts back to the field and to Wheeler.
With the Wild Card race tightening, the Phillies need their veteran ace to deliver. Wheeler’s recent performances have been inconsistent, but his season-long numbers show that he remains one of the league’s elite starters.
A strong outing against the Cardinals could help him regain momentum at a crucial point in Philadelphia’s season. With Leahy pitching well for St. Louis, the Phillies will need Wheeler at his sharpest if they want to leave the series with a victory.
Wednesday’s matchup therefore carries significance beyond simply winning a series. For Wheeler, it is an opportunity to put his recent struggles behind him. For the Phillies, it is another important step in their pursuit of postseason baseball.
