HOUSTON — As the longest season of Zack Wheeler’s career unfolded this month, he approached each postseason start for the Philadelphia Phillies in the same way that Usain Bolt might tackle a long-distance relay race.
Go as fast as you can for as long as you can, then pass the baton to a teammate.
Through his first four starts, Wheeler threw a total of 112 pitches at 97 mph or faster, most of which came in the first or second inning. Never mind that his velocity dipped in the fifth or sixth. Wheeler can pitch at 95 and did for most of the season. But if the Phillies ace is running on a higher octane at the beginning of games, well, as pitching coach Caleb Cotham said, “Just go until you can’t go.”
