With his rotation spot likely on the line (in the short-term until Jason Vargas returns) Zack Wheeler pitched a complete dud against the Washington Nationals on Thursday night in the New York Mets 12-5 win.
Wheeler lasted only two innings giving up five runs (three earned) on seven hits, walked none and struck out three. He needed a whopping 58 pitches to get those six outs (though the defense behind him was pretty terrible with three errors).
The right-hander was frustrated in himself after the game saying, “I’m highly disappointed. I’ve got to keep my head up, though. I’m feeling healthy. I’m feeling good. But maybe I’m just off a little mechanically, and hopefully I can get that figured out quick.”
Wheeler will finish his 2018 Grapefruit League play with a 8.10 ERA and 2.40 WHIP in 10 innings. He allowed a whopping 22 hits in that span with 14 strikeouts and only two walks. Opponents hit .431 against Wheeler this spring.
Now the question is what to do with Wheeler and when asked about the possibility of going to the bullpen Thursday night he said, “I’m up for anything.”
A disappointed Zack Wheeler discusses whether he’s done enough to break camp with the Mets: pic.twitter.com/ol51Qa4Sdm
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 23, 2018
It was a much different story for right-hander Seth Lugo last night in relief of Wheeler. Lugo threw four scoreless innings allowing only two hits, one walk and striking out five.
Lugo was originally scheduled to go only one inning, but with the poor and short outing from Wheeler, Mets manager Mickey Callaway decided to stretch him out.
The outing topped of a solid spring for Lugo in which he posted a 2.87 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and struck out 17 in 15.2 innings compared to only three walks.
It remains to be seen when Vargas will return and the Mets could wait until their sixth game of the season on April 4 to use a fifth starter.
