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Wheeler's 14 Ks Not Enough: Snubbed All-Star Spot

7/8/2026

33 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Zack Wheeler tied his career high with 14 strikeouts in a 4–1 win but missed the 2026 All-Star roster.
MLB omitted him on July 5 because his next start fell the weekend before All-Star break, despite a 2.27 ERA ranking in NL’s top five starters.
Jesús Luzardo earned an All-Star spot with a 3.75 ERA and will pitch in relief.
Wheeler, on a $118 million deal, called the rule “BS” and unfair.

History

Historical Context

In August 1994, acting commissioner Bud Selig oversaw a players’ strike that cancelled the World Series and cost owners about $580 million, ending the Montreal Expos’ best-ever season. The disruption showed how rigid roster rules can provoke dissent, a lesson echoed in 2026 when pitcher Zack Wheeler protested MLB’s current All-Star eligibility rule.

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Story summary

Zack Wheeler tied his career high with 14 strikeouts in a 4–1 win but missed the 2026 All-Star roster.
MLB omitted him on July 5 because his next start fell the weekend before All-Star break, despite a 2.27 ERA ranking in NL’s top five starters.
Jesús Luzardo earned an All-Star spot with a 3.75 ERA and will pitch in relief.
Wheeler, on a $118 million deal, called the rule “BS” and unfair.

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