Zack Wheeler makes spring debut against Orioles

One day after signing a three-year, $126 million contract that will keep him with the Phillies through 2027, Zack Wheeler took the mound for the Phillies on Tuesday against the Orioles. The Phils lost, 3-2.

Here’s a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly from the game:

The Good

• Wheeler gave up a run on two hits in the first inning (including a double by highly-regarded Orioles prospect Jackson Holliday), but overall he looked pretty good. Wheeler struck out four over two innings, walked none, and in the second inning he sat the Orioles down 1-2-3.
• Jake Cave went two for two with an RBI and is suddenly having a very solid spring. He has four hits in eleven at-bats and an .819 OPS.
• Trea Turner went one for two with a double. Through 15 spring at-bats, Turner is hitting .400 with a 1.038 OPS.
• JT Realmuto hit a double and scored a run.
• Max Castillo threw three scoreless innings after Wheeler exited the game. He allowed three hits, walked none, and struck out four. Castillo is up to five scoreless innings overall this spring.
• Michael Mercado pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit, walking none, and striking out three.

The Bad

• Cristian Pache, one of the few position players for whom spring results may determine roster status, went hitless in two at-bats. Many suspect that Pache is up against Cave for an Opening Day bench spot with the team, and his .267 batting average now trails Cave’s .364. Pache has the edge, however, in OPS at .980.
• RHP Luis Ortiz allowed a run on two hits in the one inning he pitched. LHP Tristan Garnett also allowed a run in his inning, walking two and serving up a hit. Garnett did strike out three batters, however, in the outing.

The Ugly

• The Phillies aren’t quite at the point where spring sample sizes are big enough to say a particular hitter is “struggling.” But they’re starting to get there. Edmundo Sosa went 0/2 in Tuesday’s game and is 1/16 overall this spring. And Kyle Schwarber, 0/3 with two strikeouts against the Orioles, has one hit and eight strikeouts in 14 spring at-bats.

No game on Wednesday for the Fightins. They will take on the Rays in Port Charlotte, FL on Thursday.