Ed Delany, MMO
According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the Mets will start right-hander Zack Wheeler in their Grapefruit League opener on Friday.
Wheeler, 27, pitched to a 3-7 record with a 5.21 ERA, 5.03 FIP, 1.587 WHIP and 81 ERA+ over 86.1 innings last year.
On Tuesday, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reported that Wheeler was likely to start the season out of the bullpen after the team signed Jason Vargas to a two-year contract.
However, Mickey Callaway said Wednesday that they view Wheeler as a starter.
“He’s definitely a starting pitcher,” he said. “For us to be the best team we can be, he has to be a starter.”
Seth Lugo will get the ball Saturday and Robert Gsellman will toe the rubber Sunday to round out the team’s first weekend of play.
