Phillies' Don Mattingly compares Zack Wheeler to Braves HOF

Wheeler was so good for the Phillies on Tuesday that interim manager Don Mattingly took notice and gave his ace quite the compliment.

Philadelphia Phillies manager Don Mattingly compares Zack Wheeler to Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer

According to Mattingly, Wheeler was like Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer Greg Maddux in carving up the Red Sox lineup in 87 pitches. Maddux was known for throwing complete-game shutouts in 100 pitches or fewer, which is known as a "Maddux."

“You're thinking Maddux-like at that point,” said interim manager Don Mattingly to Casella, referring to a feat of a shutout on fewer than 100 pitches named after Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux. “You know, is it gonna be a Maddux game?”

Through four starts since returning from thoracic outlet surgery, which cost him the end of last season, Wheeler is 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA and 0.93 WHIP and struck out 22 in 24.2 innings. Still a good amount of season ahead of him, but Wheeler is establishing why he could be the starter in his home ballpark for the Midsummer Classic in July.