WASHINGTON – The Phillies needed an encouraging outing from Zack Wheeler on Wednesday night not only to split this two-game series against the Nationals, but to feel better about the starting rotation for the stretch run of the postseason chase. One day after placing Jesús Luzardo on the 15-day injured list and watching NL Cy Young Award candidate Cristopher Sánchez struggle in a loss to the Nats, the Phils were able to sit back and watch Wheeler carve up Washington en route to a 3-0 victory. Wheeler gave up just four hits and one walk while striking out five over his seven strong innings. He faced the minimum through his last three frames, ending his outing by striking out Dylan Crews with a 96.6 mph fastball low in the zone. Wheeler is now three strikeouts away from 2,000 in his career. “Obviously, I know it's probably my last inning, so I just tried to really execute that pitch and just kind of put everything behind it that I could,” Wheeler said. “He was putting up a little tough at-bat, so I just tried to reach back and execute that pitch, and I was able to.”
