“Congratulations, Lad!” – Only one Phillies player good enough to make The Athletic’s All-Division Series Team

The Philadelphia Phillies had a tough outing in the NLDS against the sixth-seed New York Mets, as their typically successful approach that earned them back-to-back NLCS appearances faltered at the worst possible time. While Bryce Harper had a standout moment in Game 2, and Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott made significant contributions, the team’s performance was otherwise lackluster throughout their brief playoff run. One player, however, stood out and did not disappoint—Zack Wheeler.

Wheeler, the Phillies’ ace, was the only player from the team deemed good enough to be named to the All-Division Series Team. His evolution over the past few years has been remarkable. Just two years ago, he was a reliable No. 2 starter supporting his teammates. Now, Wheeler is firmly established as the ace of the Phillies’ rotation and one of the best free-agent signings in recent memory. More impressively, he has also developed into one of the greatest postseason pitchers of all time.

Despite the Phillies’ early exit, Wheeler’s performance in the NLDS was exceptional. In his lone start in Game 1, he pitched seven innings, allowing only one hit, four walks, and recording nine strikeouts. He threw 111 pitches in what was a dominant outing. Unfortunately, the Phillies went on to lose that game 6-2, further emphasizing Wheeler’s value to the team and the importance of having a pitcher of his caliber in high-stakes situations.

Wheeler’s 2024 season was arguably the best of his career, finishing with a 16-7 record, a 2.57 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP, and 224 strikeouts over 200 innings. His performance solidified his status as one of the top pitchers in the league, and he is likely to finish just behind Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves for the NL Cy Young Award this year. Over his five seasons with the Phillies, Wheeler boasts an impressive 59-32 record and a 2.94 ERA.

In the postseason, Wheeler continues to make history. He currently holds the record for the lowest WHIP (0.73) in postseason history, with a minimum of 50 innings pitched. This places him ahead of even the legendary Mariano Rivera, whose postseason WHIP stands at 0.76. Wheeler’s consistency and dominance on the mound have cemented his legacy as one of the best in playoff history.