Even Atlanta Braves star pitcher Chris Sale is confused about Zack Wheeler’s MLB All-Star situation.
Wheeler is having a strong 2026 season, but was somehow snubbed from a spot in the Midsummer Classic.
While he was later given an invite to the All-Star Game, he turned it down, saying that he felt disrespected for being initially overlooked.
Sale, who earned an All-Star nod for the 10th time in his career, feels for his fellow National League ace.
“I think he’s one of the best pitchers of our game…” Sale said in an interview on Foul Territory. “I think if we were to just look at his stat lines by itself… it’s a head scratcher to say the least. His numbers are better than mine, and I’m sitting here. I’ll leave it at that.”
Chris Sale says Zack Wheeler not making the All-Star team is a "head-scratcher, to say the least."
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 13, 2026
"His numbers are better than mine, and I'm sitting here. I'll leave it at that." pic.twitter.com/oKIJ63YoAx
Wheeler had been an All-Star three times in the past, including in each of the previous two seasons. He is on pace to arguably have the best campaign of his MLB career, as he finished the first half with a 10-1 record and a 2.13 ERA to go along with a 214 ERA+, which supports the sentiment expressed by Sale and many others that Wheeler was left off the NL All-Star Game roster.
