Zack Wheeler Snubbed for MLB All-Star Game. One Analyst Says Baseball Should Fix It.

Zack Wheeler is having another monster season for the Phillies. The numbers are there. The résumé is there. But when the All-Star rosters dropped, his name wasn’t on the list. And people are not happy about it.

The game is in Philadelphia this year. That’s the part that really stings for fans. You host the Midsummer Classic and your ace, the guy who’s been pitching like a top-tier starter for years, doesn’t make the cut. It feels wrong. And one longtime MLB insider is saying the league should step in and fix it.

Jim Bowden went on Foul Territory and made the case pretty plainly. He pointed out that if Bryce Harper gets a legacy pick — and nobody is arguing Harper doesn’t deserve one — then why isn’t Wheeler getting the same treatment? Bowden said Wheeler is a Hall of Fame talent, same as Harper. He argued that baseball figured out a way to get Jacob Misiorowski into the game last year despite not having enough innings. The logic is simple: the game is in Philly, Wheeler is the face of the rotation, and the league should find a path to get him on the roster.

The Sunday Problem

Here’s where it gets complicated. Wheeler is scheduled to pitch on Sunday, the day before the All-Star Game. That normally makes a pitcher unavailable for the event. It’s a pretty standard rule. But Bowden’s point is that rules get bent when it matters. And with the game in Philadelphia, this feels like a moment where bending might happen.

Fans are already fired up. Social media has been lighting up since the rosters were announced. Some players always drop out before the game, opening up spots. If that happens, Wheeler could get an invite. But the Sunday start makes it tricky. He’d have to pitch, then turn around and be ready for an exhibition the next day. That’s not ideal for anyone.

Still, nobody is ruling it out. The league has made exceptions before. And with the backlash getting louder by the hour, it wouldn’t be shocking if the front office in Philadelphia gets a call.

Wheeler himself hasn’t said much. But his teammates have. A few of them made it clear in interviews that they think he got robbed. And honestly, looking at his season, it’s hard to argue with them.