"Zack Wheeler was scr*wed in 2021" – Ex-GM backs Bryce Harper's pick of Phillies teammate for NL Cy Young, argues case over favorite Chris Sale

Zack Wheeler pitched yet another strong outing against the Milwaukee Brewers as the Phillies earned a 5-1 win. His season ERA improved to 2.56. After Bryce Harper claimed him to be the clear Cy Young winner, Phillies ex-GM Ruben Amaro Jr. reaffirmed the statement while also agreeing that Wheeler should have won in 2021.

On the "Phillies Show" podcast on Wednesday, Amaro was asked by hosts Todd Zolecki and Jim Salisbury about Zack Wheeler's season. The former GM said:

"If I need to win a baseball game, one - he's the guy I want on the mound to win that baseball game ... I know Chris Sale's had a great year and I love Chris Sale, I had him in Boston as a coach.

"That said, just with the level of consistency I see, the fact that he eats up more innings than anybody, the fact that he has opponent's average and opponent's on-base percentage, all those things wrapped up into the package that's dealt with the best team in baseball, you got to give him that. I honestly think this guy should win the Cy Young. He was scr*wed out of it in 2021 when Corbin Burnes won it."

Zolecki immediately pointed out that Phillies slugger Harper had similar thoughts after Wheeler earned the win against the Brewers.

"It's not even a question now, just the way he's kind of throwing, the way he's been doing it all year long. He deserves it -- he deserved it three years ago, or two years ago, too, and they robbed him of it, so he deserves it this year, no doubt," Harper said in the post-game interview.

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Comparing Chris Sale and Zack Wheeler's seasons

MLB: Tampa Bay Rays at Philadelphia Phillies (Source: IMAGN)

Unfortunately for Zack Wheeler, in some of the important pitching metrics for determining the best pitcher in the league, he comes a close second, all of them to the Braves' Chris Sale. The 35-year-old edges out his Phillies counterpart in ERA (2.35 to 2.56), ERA+ (177 to 159), WAR (6.3 to 5.4) and overall record (17-3 to 16-6).

Like Wheeler, Sale has been consistent throughout with his last loss coming way back in June. The only metric where Zack Wheeler has an advantage is the total innings pitched, where he has recorded 186.2 compared to Sale's 172.2. It seems like it will be a close competition and a lot would depend on how they end their seasons.