The Philadelphia Phillies continue to save their best baseball for the postseason.
Going from the Wild Card to the NLCS is no easy task.
Yet, the Phillies have been able to accomplish it in back-to-back seasons.
It is not easy to be an elite postseason team.
We have seen many teams stumble and fail to reach expectations in October.
Just this season the top seeds in each league were knocked out in the Division round.
The Phillies have October figured out and starting pitcher Zack Wheeler is a big reason why.
According to Anthony DiComo, Wheeler is becoming one of the best pitchers to ever throw in the playoffs.
He is the fifth pitcher in MLB history with 50+ innings, a strikeout per inning or better, and a sub-2.40 ERA.
Zack Wheeler is rapidly becoming not just good in the postseason, but one of the best to do it.
Here's every MLB pitcher with at least 50 playoff innings, a K per IP or better, and sub-2.40 ERA:
1. Sandy Koufax
2. Stephen Strasburg
3. Bob Gibson
4. Kenley Jansen
5. Zack Wheeler— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) October 17, 2023
He joins this list with Hall-of-Fame starters Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson.
Along with a future Hall-of-Fame closer in Kenley Jansen.
Wheeler still has a long way to go to be considered for the Hall of Fame but he certainly has the postseason numbers.
He started Game 1 of the NLCS for the Phillies and threw six innings allowing three hits and two earned runs.
Also, he struck out eight batters.
Now in three postseason starts this year, Wheeler has a 2-0 record with a 2.37 ERA.
He has been the main reason the Phillies have taken a 1-0 lead in each series.
The Phillies signed Wheeler to a five-year, $118 million contract back in 2020.
It looks like that contract has been a steal for the Phillies.
NEXT: The Phillies Had 2 Stars In Attendance For Game 1 Win
