Wheels Up for Opening Day: Zack Wheeler gets the nod when the Atlanta Braves come to Citizens Bank Park on March 28th

Phillies manager Rob Thomson announced Sunday after the Phillies’ Spring Training game against the Toronto Blue Jays that Zack Wheeler will get the nod on Opening Day when the Atlanta Braves head to Citizens Bank Park on March 28th.

Zack Wheeler will start for the Phillies on Opening Day

Wheels Up for Opening Day pic.twitter.com/kHo2v8WduU

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 17, 2024

A few weeks ago, Aaron Nola told NBC Sports Philadelphia that “Wheels should take it.” in reference to pitching on Opening Day because his good friend and teammate is one of the best pitchers in the game and deserves the opportunity. 

Rob Thomson then announced that Wheeler would get the nod following today’s 5-5 tie with the Toronto Blue Jays in a Grapefruit League game at BayCare Ballpark. 

With that, Aaron Nola’s streak of Opening Day starts will end at six. His streak will be the third longest in Phillies’ franchise history behind Robin Roberts (12) and Steve Carlton (10). 

Thomson said he personally told Nola about his decision. Nola reiterated that Wheeler deserved the opportunity.

The decision to start Wheeler comes after the Phillies inked their ace pitcher to a three-year, $126 million contract extension, the highest average annual value ($42 million) for a contract extension in MLB history.

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Wheeler’s extension is also the third highest AAV for any pitcher in the MLB, behind Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. To take it a step further, it’s the fourth-highest AAV for any player in Major League Baseball, behind Shohei Ohtani, Scherzer and Verlander.

Wheeler has been one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball over the past four years, owning a 43-25 record with a 3.06 ERA in 101 starts since joining the Phillies. He also has a 2.42 ERA over the past two postseasons, which is the sixth-best in MLB history (minimum 10 postseason starts).

Wheeler has made 27 career starts against the Braves, posting a 12-7 record, a 3.17 ERA, and 173 strikeouts, 15 of which came in the postseason. 

Now that Wheeler was named the Opening Day starter, what’s next?

With Wheeler being named the Opening Day starter, Thomson and company can now focus on making the final roster decisions before the season starts.

That will likely come down to the outfield bench, along with final decisions on the rotation/bullpen.

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Mandatory Credit: (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)