Breaking! Phillies Star Dominates MLB Network’s Top 10 Starters List

As MLB Network unveiled its annual offseason rankings for the “Top 10 Right Now” positional players, Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler secured a spot among the top 10 starting pitchers in the network’s initial release on Tuesday night.

Wheeler, who posted a 3.61 ERA in 32 regular-season starts in 2023 and an impressive 1.95 ERA in 27 2/3 playoff innings, earned the No. 6 spot among starting pitchers for the upcoming 2024 season. He stood as the lone representative from the Phillies, trailing Gerrit Cole, Corbin Burnes, Justin Verlander, and Blake Snell. The rest of the top 10, in descending order, featured Spencer Strider, Max Fried, and Sonny Gray.

While there may be debates about MLB Network’s selections and the specific rankings, Zack Wheeler’s standing as one of the game’s premier starters has been indisputable since his arrival in Philadelphia on a five-year deal in 2020. Following a solid first season with the Phillies, his breakout performance in 2021 earned him a runner-up position in the National League Cy Young Award voting. Wheeler ranked 12th in Cy Young voting in 2020 and sixth in 2023, showcasing his prowess as a postseason standout over the past two years.

With a 3.06 ERA in 101 starts for the Phillies, Wheeler has established himself as one of the league’s top pitchers and a vital player on Philadelphia’s roster. As the 33-year-old enters the final year of his current contract, the possibility of a contract extension looms for the Phillies’ ace.