New York Mets: Zack Wheeler Makes the Starting Rotation

After two years of recovering from Tommy John surgery, Zack Wheeler has made the starting rotation for the New York Mets.

The New York Mets haven’t been able to have their fab five all together quite yet in their starting rotation. Steven Matz will begin the season on the DL after getting a PRP injection in his left elbow. That opened the door in the rotation for Zack Wheeler and he kicked right through it.

“We felt like we needed to start the motor a little bit (on Zack),” said Collins, who had mentioned Wheeler as a bullpen candidate. “The bullpen is really a bad role if you haven’t pitched in two years. We said, ‘Let’s run him out there.'”

What we forget about Wheeler is that he’s still young. He’s just 26 years old, even though it feels like he’s been around for a long time.

Wheeler went 1-2 with a 5.11 in 12.1 spring innings. However, in his last start against the Marlins, Wheeler went five shutout innings, giving up just two hits and striking out three. His first start will be against those same Marlins next Friday.

The question you have with Wheeler is innings. He hasn’t pitched in two years and the Mets have some rotation depth, not only when Matz comes back but with Seth Lugo and Rafael Montero, who pitched well this spring. Mets GM Sandy Alderson called the innings limit “fluid”.

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If the Mets are in a similar situation that they were with Matt Harvey back in 2015 with his innings limit, I think they’ll take it. It means he’s pitching well. There are ways to manipulate the roster and the DL which I think the Mets can take advantage of with Wheeler to shut him down. I don’t think moving him to the bullpen is the answer. He’s never done it and doesn’t seem to have much interest in doing so. 

The Mets are in an excellent spot. They have pitching depth and an offense that should put up enough runs  most nights considering how good the pitching can be. It should make for a fun year in Queens and Wheeler can find himself a part of that fun as the Mets look to make the playoffs for the third straight year, which would be the first time in their history they ever did that.

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It’s a good move to turn Wheeler loose, but how long will he able to last in 2017? We will just have to wait and see.