Zack Wheeler delivered six shutout innings for the second straight start, Bryson Stott chipped in with a home run and a key opposite-field single, and Philadelphia took care of business with a 5-2 win over the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park.
Wheeler (5-1) was, once again, exactly what the Phillies needed. He scattered three hits, walked one, and never let Pittsburgh get comfortable. His scoreless streak now sits at 16 innings — and counting.
The Pirates didn’t even push a runner to second base until the ninth inning, long after Wheeler was done for the night. By then, the Phillies had done enough damage to put the game away.
Stott opened the scoring in the third, launching his fourth homer of the year off starter Carmen Mlodzinski (1-4). An inning later, he added two more runs with a single to left off Joey Wentz — a left-handed pitcher. That mattered. The Phillies haven’t been starting Stott regularly against lefties, and he came into the night hitting .214 (6-for-28) against them.
There was also the ongoing Bryce Harper surge. Another two hits. Another RBI. That’s now 11 times on base in his last 17 plate appearances. Seven hits, four walks, and the kind of stretch that somehow feels quiet, even while it’s wildly productive.
Kyle Schwarber chipped in with an RBI double, part of a four-run burst across the third and fourth innings. The Phillies have now won 14 of their last 19.
As for the Pirates, the month of May continues to be a slog. They’re 3-12 and have scored three runs or fewer in 10 of those losses. Reynolds’ two-run shot in the ninth prevented the shutout, but it did little to change the outcome. Mlodzinski lasted just 3 1/3 innings and gave up seven hits.
And now, the focus shifts to Sunday.
Mick Abel, the Phillies’ top pitching prospect not named Painter, will make his major league debut. He’ll face Pirates ace Paul Skenes — arguably the most anticipated young pitcher in the National League.
Abel enters with a 5-2 record, a 2.53 ERA, and a 1.209 WHIP in Triple-A. The plan? One start. A six-man rotation, at least temporarily. But Sunday brings more than just innings — it offers a look at the Phillies’ future. A future that might be closer than expected.
Wheeler handled Saturday. Abel gets his shot next.
