Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler decries MLB All Star snub

Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, fresh off a dominant 14-strikeout performance, has publicly criticized Major League Baseball after being left off the National League All-Star roster for the 2026 Midsummer Classic, which will be held at his home ballpark, Citizens Bank Park. The veteran right-hander, who has a 9-1 record and a 2.28 ERA this season, called the decision "kind of BS" and expressed frustration that a scheduling rule was prioritized over his on-field performance.

The snub stems from an MLB rule that deems pitchers who start on the Sunday before the All-Star Game, July 12, ineligible to pitch in the Tuesday exhibition. Wheeler is scheduled to start for the Phillies in Detroit that day. He argued that deserving players should still be named to the roster for the honor, even if they cannot pitch, and said he would have been willing to throw an inning on short rest. His omission became more pointed when replacement pitchers, including teammate Jesús Luzardo, were added to the NL roster after initial selections became unavailable.

Wheeler's frustration was amplified by his recent outing against the Cincinnati Reds on July 7, where he tied his career high with 14...