The Philadelphia Phillies secured another shutout victory against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon, clinching a 5-0 win in the series finale at Great American Ball Park.
Zack Wheeler maintained his impressive form, pitching six innings of one-hit ball. Following his stellar performance, the bullpen took over, with Orion Kerkering and Jeff Hoffman combining for three scoreless frames to seal the victory.
This marked the Phillies’ second shutout in four days, with their pitching staff also blanking the Reds in Monday’s series opener. Although Philadelphia split the series after losing the middle two games, they have now won eight of their last ten games, improving their record to 16-10.
Notably, the Phillies have recorded four shutouts during this stretch, bringing their total to five in 26 games this season, the highest in MLB.
While it’s early in the season and pitchers typically have an edge over hitters, the Phillies’ pitching dominance is evident. Their rotation, led by Wheeler (1.93 ERA), Aaron Nola (3.16 ERA), Ranger Suarez (1.36 ERA), Cristopher Sanchez (2.96 ERA), and Spencer Turnbull (1.33 ERA), has been exceptional. Additionally, the bullpen has performed well overall, contributing to the team’s impressive 3.36 ERA and averaging over a strikeout per inning.
Despite Turnbull’s anticipated move to the bullpen upon Taijuan Walker’s return from injury, Philadelphia’s rotation remains one of the strongest in baseball. With a reliable bullpen supporting them, the Phillies are well-positioned to maintain their lead in shutouts throughout the season.
