Zack Wheeler Blasts Odd MLB All-Star Rule - And He's Right

Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler isn't happy with one of MLB's odd rules revolving around the All-Star Game.

Wheeler began the year on the IL after he was diagnosed last August with venous thoracic outlet syndrome, which is a form of blood clots. After being activated from the injured list in late April, the Phillies right-hander has been stellar.

Wheeler is 9-1 with a 2.28 ERA in 14 starts this season, as he's been one of the best pitchers in baseball, but he wasn't named to the All-Star Game.

Due to him pitching on Sunday, the day before the break, he's ineligible for the All-Star Game, which Wheeler wasn't a fan of.

"It pisses me off," Wheeler told reporters after his start on Tuesday. "It's kind of BS, so. Maybe if I wasn't necessarily right in there, I wouldn't be saying this, but I feel like I've earned it. And just because I pitch on a certain day, I don't even know the right way; just because I pitch on a certain day, I can't pitch in the All-Star Game. Or even be there or get the recognition for it.

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"They could have done it a few different ways, maybe put me in. I didn't have to be chosen right away; I felt like I was right there. They could have put me in and automatically just shoot me right back out, and put somebody else in. You figure they would have a clue about it by now- how many All-Star games they've had. It's kind of a BS rule that just cause I pitch on a certain day, I get punished for it."

Wheeler makes a fair point. It's a dumb rule, as Wheeler even noted: pitchers throw a bullpen session two or three days after their last start, which is when the All-Star Game would be, so there's no reason for them to be left off the roster because of that.

And MLB can simply add extra players to the All-Star roster if pitchers are set to pitch on Sunday, so they can still get recognized.

Pitchers like Wheeler deserve a chance to be recognized, especially with the All-Star Game in Philadelphia. The MLB's rule should change, but, for now, it won't.

Phillies Back Wheeler as an All-Star

After Wheeler vented his frustration about his All-Star snub, Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly backed him.

Mattingly knows it's hard for every player to get the recognition they deserve, but he feels like Wheeler and Harper earned the right to get in.

"Wheels does not get the attention nationally," Mattingly said. "Even like Harp, right? Harp, you're around long enough and you're good every year, you start to always [say], ‘Oh, who's the next new thing? What's the next new thing happening?' And those guys get a lot of attention, and they probably deserve it, which is fine. But you start to forget about those guys a little bit, because they're not on the tip of your tongue. They're not on the tip of MLB Tonight and things like that...So I do think those guys get overlooked. And then at the end of their careers, everybody starts to recognize again, like, ‘Man, this guy's had an unbelievable career.'"

Despite Wheeler being a three-time MLB All-Star and, more importantly, his dominance this season, he won't be on the mound.

Related: Justin Verlander Gets Classy Send-Off From MLB After Retirement Plans

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This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 6:21 PM.