Philadelphia was 9-19 and tied for the worst record in baseball when ownership pulled the plug on Rob Thomson on April 28. Don Mattingly took over as interim, and the Phillies have gone 6-1 since. They're 16-20 now, still under .500, but the vibes have done a full 180 in about a week.
Wheeler's 2.45 ERA looks like a typo next to the team's early-season disaster. His last time out he punched out 8 Marlins over 6 innings of 1-run ball and got up to 94 pitches, so the workload restrictions from his late debut are basically gone. If you're a Phillies fan, that's the most reassuring sentence you've read in a month.
On the other side, Jeffrey Springs is the kind of arm that's tougher to peg than the 3.96 ERA suggests. He opened the season with a 1.46 ERA through 4 starts, then got tagged for an 8.36 mark across his next 3. His last outing in Kansas City got cut to 3 innings after some right hip soreness, but Mark Kotsay said it was precautionary and the lefty was cleared for this turn.
The market is treating this exactly the way you'd expect: Wheeler at home, public hammering the Phillies, A's getting just enough credit to keep the line honest at -171/+156. Oakland has lost 3 of its last 5 and is doing it shorthanded — Shea Langeliers, the team's hottest bat, is on the paternity list, Max Muncy hasn't resumed baseball activities, and Denzel Clarke is still working his way back.
- 10-Day-ILMax Muncy 3B — Muncy (hand) has yet to resume baseball activities, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILDenzel Clarke CF — Clarke (foot) has begun a running and hitting progression, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
- PaternityShea Langeliers C — Langeliers was placed on the paternity list Monday.
- 60-Day-ILGunnar Hoglund SP — Hoglund (knee/back) was given a cortisone injection in his left hip May 1, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayChristian McGowan RP — McGowan will miss the remainder of the season following Tommy John surgery, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayRene Pinto C — The Phillies signed Pinto to a minor-league contract Jan. 6.
- Day-To-DayDaniel Robert RP — Robert suffered a cardiac incident Sunday while preparing to throw a bullpen session and was taken to a local hospital, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
- Day-To-DayKeaton Anthony 1B — Anthony suffered a fractured toe after fouling a ball off his foot during Monday's Grapefruit League game versus the Red Sox, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
- Day-To-DayAndrew Bechtold 3B — Bechtold signed a minor-league contract with the Blue Jays on Dec. 1.
- Day-To-DayMark Kolozsvary C — Kolozsvary (undisclosed) agreed to a minor-league contract with the Phillies on Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILKyle Backhus RP — Backhus allowed one run on two hits across one inning of work as an opener Wednesday against the Cubs. He struck out one.
- 15-Day-ILZach Pop RP — Pop is slated to serve as the Phillies' opening pitcher in Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
The Athletics are 18-17 and atop the AL West, which is genuinely impressive for a roster this young, but the lineup leans a little thin without Langeliers in the middle of it. Wheeler in this form against a banged-up A's order at home, with a manager bump still riding shotgun — it's not a mystery why Philly is the chalk. Whether it covers the run-and-a-half is the only real question.