Skenes (6-7, 3.10 ERA) and Wheeler (8-1, 2.03 ERA) square off in game 3 of this series at Citizens Bank Park, with first pitch at 6:40 PM ET. Both starters are legitimately elite — but Wheeler right now isn't just good, he's operating at a tier that most pitchers never reach in a single season, let alone after major vascular surgery.
Wheeler won NL Pitcher of the Month for June after posting a 0.58 ERA across 5 starts. His last outing, June 26 against the Mets, went 7 innings and 1 earned run on 98 pitches. He had a rib removed 9 months ago to address thoracic outlet syndrome and has come back throwing the ball as well as he ever has. Philadelphia is getting the best version of a pitcher who was already a frontline ace.
The Pirates split the first 2 games of this series in jarring fashion — 11-7 on Monday, then a 0-8 shutout on Tuesday. That whipsaw is Pittsburgh in a nutshell: capable of a genuine offensive explosion one night, completely invisible the next. The bigger issue for this game is what's happened in Skenes starts specifically. The Pirates have dropped 7 straight with Skenes on the mound, and his ERA is still 3.10 — this is not a Skenes problem. Pittsburgh has scored 2 or fewer runs in 5 of those 7 games. Going up against a Wheeler who is posting sub-1.00 ERA figures for June is not when that pattern reverses.
- Day-To-DayJared Jones SP — no
- Day-To-DayAnthony Solometo SP — Solometo underwent left shoulder labrum surgery and is expected to be sidelined until at least April 2027, Mark Chiarelli of Baseball America reports.
- Day-To-DayMitch Jebb LF
- Day-To-DaySean Sullivan SP — Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Sullivan is battling right elbow soreness, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
- 10-Day-ILSpencer Horwitz 1B — Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that Horwitz (hamstring) will remain sidelined for "weeks, not days," and the first baseman isn't expected to return from the 10-day injured list until after the All-Star break, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
- 10-Day-ILOneil Cruz CF — Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday that he expects Cruz (hand) to return from the 10-day injured list at some point in July, most likely after the All-Star break, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
- 15-Day-ILWilber Dotel RP — Dotel (lat) will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Altoona on Saturday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILChris Devenski RP — Devenski (illness) was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
- Day-To-DayLiover Peguero SS — The Phillies reassigned Peguero to minor-league camp Sunday.
- Day-To-DayAndrew Walling RP
- Day-To-DayCarson DeMartini SS
- 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-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-ILBrad Keller RP — Keller (forearm) completed a live batting practice session Tuesday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
- 60-Day-ILJohan Rojas CF — Rojas (suspension) underwent surgery Friday to repair the UCL in his right elbow and will face an expected recovery timeline of 6-to-8 months, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
- 60-Day-ILAdolis Garcia RF — The Phillies announced that Garcia underwent successful surgery Wednesday to repair a torn right lat, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Pittsburgh is also missing 2 of its better bats. Oneil Cruz (hand) and Spencer Horwitz (hamstring) are both expected to be out past the All-Star break, per GM Ben Cherington. That's a power bat in center field and a first baseman who was contributing — both gone. The Phillies have their own IL names — Adolis Garcia and Johan Rojas are on the 60-day — but those losses sting less when Wheeler is doing what he's been doing and Philadelphia is at home with a 48-38 record. The Phillies haven't run away with the NL East, but a series at home against a shorthanded Pirates club is one they need.