Spiteful Masterclass: Wheeler Dismantles Reds After All-Star Snub

After being left off the All-Star roster, Zack Wheeler delivered seven innings with 14 strikeouts against the Reds, earning a 4-1 win for the Phillies. His agent had called the snub 'tone deaf,' and Wheeler later said the snub 'pisses me off' as motivation. The performance tied a career-high in K's, marked him as the first pitcher since Randy Johnson to post back-to-back 12+ strikeout starts against Cincinnati, and showcased how spite can fuel peak pitching—even with Philadelphia already having six All-Stars.