Truncated Zack Wheeler outing a potential major problem for Phillies

Per Statcast, Wheeler's pitch velocity was down significantly on all six he threw against Miami, with his fastball decreasing 1.7 mph from 95.2 mph to 93.5. His splitter averaged 86.2 mph, 1.2 mph lower than his season average, and that same story continued with Wheeler's splitter (down 1.6 mph), cutter (-2.1 mph), curveball (-1.3 mph) and sinker (-1.7 mph).

Per Zolecki, the 93.5 mph average four-seamer was Wheeler's "second-lowest ... in any game in his career."

All six of his hits allowed were classified as "hard hits," or batted balls with an exit velocity of at least 95 mph, with left fielder Heriberto Hernandez taking a 93 mph slider left over the upper portion of the strike zone 388 yards to left field in the bottom of the first.

Right fielder Griffin Conine followed with a solo blast an inning later off a 77 mph curveball low in the zone.

Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez gave the Marlins a 5-2 lead on a triple four batters later, Wheeler's fourth extra-base hit allowed in his first 10 hitters faced.

The miserable outing raised more alarms once Wheeler was pulled after a clean third inning and having thrown only 68 pitches. Gelb noted that "Something was affecting him all night" and "Phillies brash, after huddling in the dugout, made the call" to pull the plug.

With the MLB trade deadline set for next Monday (Aug. 3, 6 p.m. ET), Wheeler's start makes acquiring a starting pitcher even more of a need. Depending on whether the concerning start against Miami is a sign of a more serious issue, Philly may have to add more than one. All-Stars Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo are dependable at the top of the rotation, but the depth behind the duo without Wheeler at 100 percent is, to put it kindly, non-existent.

With Monday's loss, the Phillies (57-50) are only two games ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates (55-52) and Arizona Diamondbacks (55-52) for the NL's last wild-card spot, increasing the stakes of this year's deadline. They can't afford to sit idly, especially with Wheeler possibly no longer a sure thing.