If there was ever a night to make your bones, Sunday was the night, and Mets’ right-handed starting pitcher Zack Wheeler did just that.
In a pivotal rubber game against one of the best teams in baseball, Wheeler came out firing and gave the Mets their best chance to remain within three games of the second Wild Card position.
Playing a night game Sunday, New York saw both the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers be victors, meaning that they would have to win to keep pace in the race.
Wheeler, 29, yielded just one run over seven innings while striking out nine before handing the game and a 2-1 lead over to the bullpen.
New York’s two most trustworthy relievers, Justin Wilson and Seth Lugo, each gave a run to the Dodgers, which ultimately served the Mets their demise.
“We gotta win,” Wilson said, according to Laura Albanese of Newsday. “We’ve had to win for a month, really. It is what it is. We’ve gotta win tomorrow now. This team hasn’t given up once all season. Zack pitched amazing tonight and sadly, I couldn’t hold the lead for him.”
The Mets will now embark on the rest of their season, with 10 of their last 13 games coming against losing teams. It’s not impossible, but it will take a miracle to earn a playoff spot.
Mets’ manager Mickey Callaway isn’t giving up hope just yet.
“When their back is against the wall, they do special things,” Callaway said. “They’ve proven that time and time again, and I think they’re going to continue to prove that. We’ve gotta take care of things in Colorado [Monday night]. Tough place to go, tough travel night, there’s no excuses.”
For Wheeler, if the Mets do make a miracle push, they can use his skillset. In the second half of the 2019 season, the Smyrna, Georgia native is 5-1 with a 3.15 ERA in 54.1 innings pitched.
