Zack Wheeler did not have his very best stuff his last couple outings, and while it’s easy to blow early-season trends out of proportion, it’s hard to ever get too concerned about him. Wheeler demonstrated why on Friday, punching out 13 Marlins and walking zero in seven innings of two-run ball to lead the Phillies to a painless 7-2 series-opening win.

The baker’s dozen strikeout total was one shy of Wheeler’s career high and his most since he set down 14 on May 29, 2021, his 22nd start with the Phillies. A night after Cristopher Sánchez’s devastating changeup led him to 24 whiffs on 97 pitches against the Giants, Wheeler generated 20 on 96.

He attacked the zone all night because he got a lead quick and watched it grow quick. After fouling off three straight 0-2 pitches from Sandy Alcantara in the first inning, Bryce Harper hit his third homer in his last four games, finding the second deck.

They tripled that lead in the second inning without an extra-base hit. A walk and three straight singles scored two, before a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch made it 6-0.

The punctation mark of the Phillies’ night offensively came in the fifth, in much more explosive fashion. Kyle Schwarber, who like Harper fell down 0-2, crushed a sweeper from Anthony Veneziano into an area of Citizens Bank Park that few other hitters have visited with the regularity that he does.

It was his fourth homer against left-handed pitching this season. He has three against righties, in over 20 more plate appearances. He’s also reached safely in all 20 games this season.

The Phillies struck out only six times on Friday night, after striking out just seven times on Thursday. Their pitchers struck out 16 Marlins.

Just as important as Wheeler getting back on track was the Phillies mostly giving their bullpen a night off. Tanner Banks and José Ruiz threw the final two innings of the game, each walking one and retiring the following three. Philadelphia is 12-8.