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Phillies Hypothetical: Are You Throwing Zack Wheeler on Sunday if the 4 Seed is in Play?

Kevin Kinkead

By Kevin Kinkead

Published:

Sep 22, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citizens Bank Park.
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

I was talking to Amish Terp on Twitter and he raised a couple of rhetorical Phillies questions, paraphrased:

As the Phillies stumble into the MLB postseason, how much do you care about home field advantage? Would you throw Zack Wheeler this weekend for a chance at hosting the Wild Card round at Citizens Bank Park?

Kneejerk reaction would say yes, home field matters. CBP is electric in the postseason, though we consider the following:

  1. The Phillies won 45 road games this season. They currently have the third best road record in the NL.
  2. They swept the Padres in San Diego.
  3. They went 0-4 against the Cubs at Wrigley, though that series took place before Rob Thomson was fired.
  4. The team ERA is 3.92 on the road and 4.09 at home.
  5. The Braves won 52 home games, the Cubs 45, and Padres 49.
  6. The Phils have a 13-7 postseason home record since 2022.
  7. They have an 8-10 postseason road record since 2022.

There’s a scenario in which the Phillies clinch and then go into Sunday’s finale with the 4 seed still in play. Do you throw Wheeler in an effort to get home field advantage? It would keep him out of the Wild Card likely until Thursday, Game 3, if the series gets there. Otherwise you’d be throwing Cristopher Sanchez and Aaron Nola in Games 1 and 2, with Jesus Luzardo’s status currently unclear.

Certainly you’d look at the situation differently if Zeus was healthy. Throwing Wheeler on Sunday and coming away with the 4 seed would be less risky if you knew for certain that you’d have Sanchez and Luzardo ready to go for Tuesday and Wednesday. That would leave you with Nola to start Game 3 and then Wheels to piggyback. If they do anything this postseason, it’s gonna be on the strength of their starting rotation.

The Rays have already locked up the #1 seed in the AL, so this series at Citizens Bank Park is meaningless for them.

What do you think? Something to chew on.

Kevin Kinkead
Kevin Kinkead

Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com