With another shaky performance by Zack Wheeler, will we ever see the New York Mets Fab Five in the starting rotation at the same time?
With everyone going with a strong position player core, the New York Mets wen the other way and built their future earlier in the decade with young, power arm, starting pitching. It worked in 2015 with a World Series appearance and in 2016 with another playoff birth.
Even with that success, they’ve never been able to get Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler to be healthy and in the starting rotation at the same time. In fact, the organization questioned the health of the five so much that they signed Jason Vargas during Spring Training, However, Vargas underwent hand surgery and may miss the start of the season.
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Vargas being injured opened the door for Wheeler to start the year in the rotation. However, after another shaky performance last night against the Washington Nationals, that remains in doubt. Wheeler gave up five runs on seven hits in two innings and his spring ERA rose to 8.10.
Meanwhile, spin rate master Seth Lugo pitched four scoreless innings in relief and could be a candidate now for that fifth spot in the rotation.
With Harvey a free agent after the season and with Wheeler’s struggles now, will we ever see all five pitchers in the rotation at the same time? I think the answer is no, and I think we learned that during Spring Training when the club added Vargas to the rotation. Vargas is a guy who can eat innings and gives the club a different look compared to all the other pitchers in the rotation.
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I think if the New York Mets get Wheeler straightened out, he may become their Chad Green or Chris Devenski out of the bullpen, something that can certainly prove valuable on a team with playoff aspirations.
The New York Mets Fab Five may never be in the rotation together, however, they won’t be viewed like Generation K. All five pitchers can contribute to a team hoping to make the playoffs for the third time in four years.