Zack Wheeler, one of baseball’s top arms, will take the mound on Wednesday night. Philadelphia’s ace is a tough assignment for any team, let alone one of MLB’s worst lineups. That doesn’t bode well for the Rockies, a group that struggles to score away from Coors Field.
The Phillies enter tonight’s contest as heavy favorites (-340), with the over/under set at seven runs. Before the start of Wednesday’s game, here’s my favorite Zack Wheeler player prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Zack Wheeler O 18.5 outs recorded (-105)
Most starters are put on a pitch limit during their first few outings of the season. Zach Wheeler isn’t most starters. The right-hander tossed the ball 97 times last Thursday vs. the Nationals, allowing one earned run over six frames. That performance shouldn’t come as a surprise; Philadelphia’s ace is a true workhorse. Since 2020, he’s thrown more innings (835.1) than any pitcher other than teammate Aaron Nola (855.1).
Wheeler’s longevity makes him an enticing pitcher to back for prop bets. That’s especially true against one of the league’s worst offenses. The Rockies scored just 286 runs away from home in 2024, ahead of only the White Sox (255). Colorado also recorded the second-most strikeouts (1,617) in baseball last season.
In his previous three starts vs. the Rockies, Wheeler has allowed only four runs over 18.2 innings. April of 2023 was the most recent of those matchups; Colorado’s hitting has only gotten worse since then. The 34-year-old is given a long leash by the Phillies, averaging over 6 innings per start last season. Even early in the year, it’s difficult to envision a shorter outing on the horizon tonight.
Obviously, the Phillies will only leave their starter on the mound if he’s doing well. However, efficiency is also key if Wheeler wants to go deep. Fortunately, the veteran averaged just 4.0 pitches per plate appearance last season. As long as he avoids multiple lengthy at-bats, Philadelphia’s All-Star hurler can flirt with seven innings on Wednesday.
