Wheeler strikes out 10 in 8 innings to lead Phillies past Padres 4-0

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler struck out 10 in eight innings, Nick Castellanos homered and the Philadelphia Phillies won in Bryce Harper’s return to the lineup, 4-0 over the San Diego Padres on Monday night.

Harper was hit by a pitch on the left foot, walked and lined into an unassisted double play as part of a 0-for-2 night in his first game since June 5. Harper returned from a nearly month-long layoff with right wrist inflammation to start at first base and bat third.

Wheeler (8-3) tossed six-hit ball and did not walk a batter in another sterling outing for the NL East leaders.

Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill did his part to keep the game from getting totally out of hand in the third when he reached well over the wall in straightaway center and robbed Max Kepler of a three-run homer.

The rest of the game was all Philadelphia.

If Merrill made the play of game, Bryson Stott was right him behind for the Phillies. After he walked and stole second base, Stott hustled home on Brandon Marsh’s grounder to first and scored on a head-first slide for a 2-0 lead. Marsh scored on Trea Turner’s infield single to make it 3-0.

Castellanos’ solo shot off Padres starter Matt Waldron in the fifth made it 4-0. Waldron (0-1) made his season debut after the knuckleballer spent all season on the injured list with left oblique strain. He walked six in 4 2/3 innings.

With runners on first and second and one out in the fifth, Wheeler got pinch-hitter Trenton Brooks to line into a double play. Brooks hit one to Stott at second base and he flipped the ball to Turner at the bag to complete the inning-ending play.

Wheeler allowed a total of two earned runs in five June starts.

The Phillies send Cristopher Sánchez (6-2, 2.79 ERA) to the mound against Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (8-2, 3.36 ERA)

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Philadelphia Phillies' Trea Turner follows through after hitting a run-scoring single against San Diego Padres pitcher Matt Waldron during the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, June 30, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Phillies' Nick Castellanos reacts after hitting a home run agains tSan Diego Padres pitcher Matt Waldron during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, June 30, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Phillies' Zack Wheeler pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Monday, June 30, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he’s been told “on good authority” that plans for executions in Iran have stopped, even as Tehran has signaled fast trials and executions ahead in its crackdown on protesters.

The U.S. president’s claims, which were made with few details, come as he’s told protesting Iranians in recent days that “help is on the way” and that his administration would “act accordingly” to respond to the Iranian government. But Trump has not offered any details about how the U.S. might respond and it wasn’t clear if his comments Wednesday indicated he would hold off on action.

“We’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping -- it’s stopped -- it’s stopping,” Trump said. “And there’s no plan for executions, or an execution, or executions -- so I’ve been told that on good authority.”

The president on Tuesday consulted with his national security team about next steps after telling reporters he believed the killing in Iran was “significant.”

Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and key White House National Security Council officials began meeting last Friday to develop options for Trump, ranging from a diplomatic approach to military strikes.

The Iranian security force crackdown on the demonstrations has killed at least 2,586, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported.

A man stands with his motorbike in front of a huge banner showing hands holding Iranian flags as a sign of patriotism, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

President Donald Trump gestures as he walks from Marine One after arriving on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)