As New York Mets fans and media continue to talk about the fact that Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler could finally pitch in the same rotation, the team is saying hold on a minute.
According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, the Mets are concerned about Wheeler following his last start when he allowed five earned runs in three innings against the Washington Nationals.
Wheeler gets another crack at the Nationals tonight at 6:10 p.m. at First Data Field with his rotation spot possibly on the line. Puma reports that Mets team officials would consider using Seth Lugo or Robert Gsellman in the fifth starter spot if Wheeler falters again on Thursday.
The right-handed Wheeler has a 6.75 ERA and 2.13 WHIP in eight innings this spring while opponents are hitting .405 off him in that time. Though that does come with the positives of only two walks compared to 11 strikeouts in that span.
On the other hand, both Lugo and Gsellman have pitched pretty well this spring. Lugo has a 3.86 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 11.1 innings while Gsellman has a 3.75 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 12 innings. Both guys could end up in the Mets Opening Day bullpen if Wheeler pitches well on Thursday.
The opening for Wheeler to even have a chance at the final spot came from Jason Vargas getting hit with a line drive last week on his non-pitching hand. Vargas had surgery on Tuesday for a non-displaced fracture of the hamate bone in his right hand. Despite the surgery it could be a short absence for Vargas as he’s expected to throw five days afterwards.
It’s now up to the 27-year-old Zack Wheeler to prove he belongs in the rotation and give the Mets fans what they’ve been waiting years to see.
