PHILADELPHIA — On paper, Saturday’s matchup between Cy Young aspirants Zack Wheeler and Tarik Skubal tantalized.
In practice, it didn’t quite live up to their hype, even if their final lines ended up resembling each other.
Wheeler was on the short end, allowing three homers and four runs (three earned) in six innings of a 7-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Skubal was unscored upon through six before giving up three in the seventh.
Both struck out 10. Both gave up long balls. Both wanted to win in part because of how daunting the opposing arm was.
“That’s why it’s so frustrating, because you know he’s not going to give up anything,” Wheeler said. “You just want to go out there and match him and put up zeros and make it a battle. But I came up on the short end. He’s the best in the game, had a lot of strikeouts and kept us off the board for the most part.”
Wheeler struggled with his command. He allowed solo homers to Colt Keith and Kerry Carpenter, both lefties, in the third inning, which with Skubal on the mound looked to be too much to overcome. Wheeler (9-5) settled down to scatter six singles, then induced a ground ball to third from Dillon Dingler to lead off the top of the seventh that Otto Kemp booted. That allowed Javier Baez to jump on a first-pitch sinker for a 2-run homer and a 4-0 Tigers lead.
“Fastball command was off,” Wheeler said. “I was pulling a lot of stuff, and it’s probably the worst my sinker has ever been, just pulling it middle. That’s what Baez hit out at the end. Off-speed was good, but fastball command hasn’t been there.”
Wheeler all but apologized for the latter sequence, saying he campaigned to Rob Thomson to go back out for the seventh at 95 pitches. He didn’t retire a batter, exited down four, and watched Tanner Banks surrender a solo homer to Gleyber Torres to make it 5-0.
Wheeler allowed nine hits and four runs. He struck out 10 without issuing a walk. He’s allowed 13 earned runs and six homers in 23.2 innings over his last four starts, with loose fastball command the prime culprit.
Skubal (11-3) was just about unhittable for six innings. He also walked none and also struck out 10. He allowed two hits in six innings until Bryce Harper led off the seventh with his second single. Harper scored on JT Realmuto’s double to left, then Nick Castellanos bashed a two-run home run to right center.
“He’s a top lefty in the game, a top pitcher in the game,” Harper said of Skubal. “It’s always fun going up against a guy like that. He competes, man. He’s a big competitor out there. A lot of fun to play against and compete against. But he had our number today.”
Each bullpen gave up two runs in the eighth – Baez a two-run triple off Matt Strahm, Harper a two-run homer off Will Vest.
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Notes >> Aaron Nola threw three scoreless innings on 37 pitches Friday for Lehigh Valley in the first start of his rehab assignment from a rib fracture. He allowed three hits, one walk and struck out three. Thomson said he’ll start again Wednesday, aiming for four innings or around 65 pitches. … David Robertson was roughed up in his third appearance, needing 30 pitches to get through an inning with the IronPigs. “Velocity was good. He touched 92,” Thomson said. “Just struggled with command. His curveball was really good. His fastball command just wasn’t there.” Robertson and Joe Ross (back spasms) will pitch against Sunday. … Thomson expects Jose Alvarado to be ready soon after his Aug. 4 eligibility date to start a minor league assignment. His 80-day suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs ends Aug. 19. He can start ramping up with the team 15 days prior. “I’ve talked to him once, but I know what his program’s been,” Thomson said. “He’s thrown a bunch of bullpens. He’s had a bunch of BP sessions. So feels like he’s good to go.” … Alec Bohm (rib fracture) took ground balls again Saturday and repeated his tee and soft toss regimen.
