The Toronto Blue Jays opened their series against the Philadelphia Phillies with a 5-4 victory Friday night, but the result was not the only talking point after the game. Phillies starter Zack Wheeler, a three-time All-Star, worked 5 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits.
During the contest, Toronto players and coaches grew convinced that Wheeler’s delivery violated the rules. They argued his foot was leaving the rubber on the first-base side before he released the ball.
Wheeler said he discussed the matter with the home-plate umpire after the Blue Jays raised the issue. Major League Baseball had spoken with him about the same point in the past. Still, the right-hander insisted his motion was legal and did not hold back when asked about Toronto’s complaints.
“They’ve lost a lot of games over there, so they’re probably trying to pick some things up to complain about,” Wheeler said.
Blue Jays hitting coach David Popkins was ejected while pressing the argument about Wheeler’s foot placement. Manager John Schneider later explained the team’s stance while making clear he still respects the Phillies pitcher.
“Let me say this first and foremost, Zack Wheeler is an unbelievable pitcher and has been for a long time,” Schneider said. “I have all the respect in the world for him. We were just getting information that his foot was off the rubber on the first-base side. … It’s hard to see in real time. This dude’s been pitching at an elite level for his entire career. … But it was just an example of our hitting coach kind of protecting the players and me doing the same.”
Despite the dispute over Wheeler’s delivery, Toronto came away with the win and the early edge in the series. The night also marked the Blue Jays debut of Jose Soriano, acquired from the Los Angeles Angels. The right-hander tossed 4 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out three.
Schneider said the team was pleased with more than just the numbers.
“You see the stuff and you know who you’re acquiring, but to kind of see the demeanor and see how they approach certain things, how they are in between innings, kind of see their cadence of the game, is nice,” Schneider said. “For him to kind of not budge right there was really good to see.”
Soriano had not pitched in more than a week. A rain delay further complicated his outing, yet the Blue Jays managed his workload carefully. The newcomer focused on the basics and later expressed satisfaction with the result.
“It feels great to help the team win the game,” Soriano said. “That’s the point. … I just tried to keep the focus in that moment. I tried to do one pitch all the time.”
The Blue Jays will look to take the series when the clubs meet again Saturday at 6:05 p.m. ET. Wheeler’s comments and the delivery debate are likely to linger as background noise as both sides prepare for the next contest.
Toronto’s ability to push across five runs against a high-profile starter while introducing a new arm into the rotation offered an early boost. The Phillies, meanwhile, will try to even the series and put the postgame chatter behind them.
Schneider’s measured praise for Wheeler alongside the team’s on-field success suggested Toronto remains focused on results rather than prolonged arguments. For his part, Wheeler made clear he believes the Blue Jays are searching for excuses amid a difficult stretch of their season.
The series continues with plenty still at stake for both clubs as the summer schedule rolls on.
