Since May 10, the two most dominant starting pitchers in Major League Baseball.
Ranger Suarez and Zack Wheeler have transformed into the most unhittable duo in the sport, leading a Phillies rotation thatâs methodically smothering opposing lineups and anchoring one of the best teams in baseball.
Suarez leads all qualified pitchers in ERA since May 10, posting a jaw-dropping 1.19 mark over that stretch. Wheeler isnât far behind with a 1.50 ERA, good for second-best in the majors during the same span.
Only Paul Skenes, the electrifying Pittsburgh Pirates rookie, even enters the conversation â and even he sits behind both Phillies in terms of consistency and command.
The Calm Before the Storm
Suárez is the definition of deceptive dominance. He doesnât light up radar guns or go viral on Pitching Ninja â but his mastery of timing, movement, and location borders on surgical. His fastball command is pinpoint. His changeup vanishes off the edge. His curveball drops in like clockwork. Suárez rarely beats himself, and hitters almost never square him up. Since the start of the season, heâs pitched with mechanical consistency and a kind of serene confidence that belies how ruthlessly effective heâs become.
The left-handerâs 2024 campaign has been a breakout in every sense. Heâs gone deep into games, handled elite lineups, and done it without needing swing-and-miss stuff to get outs. His 1.19 ERA since May 10 is the best in baseball among healthy starters. And itâs not a fluke â Suárez ranks among the league leaders in soft contact, ground ball rate, and walk suppression. Every start feels like a masterclass in disruption.
Philliesâ Ace
If Suarez is the surgeon, Wheeler is the hammer. The veteran right-hander continues to be one of MLBâs most complete pitchers, mixing upper-90s velocity with sharp command and late movement. His pitch mix â fastball, slider, curve, sinker â is as refined as ever, and his feel for sequencing makes him elite even on days when his fastball isnât overpowering.
Since May 10, Wheeler owns a 1.50 ERA and has looked as dominant as he did during Philadelphiaâs 2022 postseason run. His strikeout totals remain strong, his walk rate is under control, and heâs allowing very few big innings. He keeps the Phillies in every game he starts and has become the dependable No. 1 every contender dreams of having at the front of a rotation.
Together, Suarez and Wheeler have become a devastating contrast â left-right, finesse-power, silence-storm â and opposing hitters are feeling the pressure.
Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez and a deep bullpen give the Phillies even more stability in the long run, but make no mistake: Suarez and Wheeler are the foundation. Every series they open gives the Phillies a massive edge. Every game they start sets a tone.
And in a game increasingly obsessed with velocity and flash, the Philliesâ rotation pair is reminding everyone that true dominance doesnât have to be loud. Sometimes, it just wins.
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