The Mets shuffled their rotation around to get Zack Wheeler an extra start before the All-Star break, as trade rumors surrounding the righty continue to heat up.

However, Wheeler’s latest audition for possible contending teams on the trade market did not go so well. Five of the first six batters he faced recorded hits off them, with the Phillies smacking one line drive after another. Wheeler’s fastball was also a tick down from where it had been in previous starts.

“Honestly, I think they had my pitches that I was throwing,” Wheeler said of his first inning struggles.

Wheeler recorded strikeouts of Cesar Hernandez and Aaron Nola to put the first inning to its merciful end, but not before the Phillies had batted around and scored four runs.

After Wheeler retired Scott Kingery on a great catch in foul territory by Dominic Smith, he gave up back-to-back hits to Jean Segura and Bryce Harper. However, Harper helped him out a little, running into an out at second base in an attempt to stretch his single into a double. With Segura on third, Wheeler was able to induce a groundout from Rhys Hoskins to escape the inning with no damage done, using a 99 mph fastball, which was the hardest of his afternoon.

From there, Wheeler really settled down, retiring 10 in a row at one point, including striking out the side in order in the fourth.

However, he ran back into trouble in the sixth, walking J.T. Realmuto to lead off the inning, then allowing a big two-run blast off the bat of Jay Bruce which chased him from the game.

“I think I noticed it in the second or third inning,” Wheeler said of the Phillies having the book on him early, “but I finally made a change and I was good to go from there besides the pitch to Jay, but other than that, I was making my pitches. And they were just hitting good pitches, and I thought it was kind of weird that they were turning on fastballs, so I just happened to notice something going on, and we changed it up.”

Wheeler’s final line was six runs (all earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out seven in five-plus innings. He dug too deep of a hole for the Mets to dig out of, as the team last 8-3 and Wheeler’s record fell to 6-6, while his ERA went up to 4.69.

Overall, it was a so-so first half for Wheeler, who had his moments but disappointed in his consistency, especially after his dominant second half of 2018. There is still hope though, as Wheeler’s ERA after the first half last year was a similar 4.44, and he ended up going on an insane run in the second half, posting a 1.68 ERA over his final 11 starts. Hopefully, he will bounce back and anchor this Mets rotation in a similar way after this year’s break.

Wheeler’s first start after the break is scheduled for Tuesday, July 16, in Minnesota for the opener of a two-game set against the Twins.