Mets skipper Mickey Calloway announced Zack Wheeler will make his 2018 season debut with a start against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday.
This will mark the first time the Five Aces of the NY Mets will be making at least one turn through the rotation.
The turn begins tonight with Matt Harvey going up against the Washington Nationals, Noah Syndergaard pitching tomorrow night, Jacob deGrom pitching Tuesday, Zack Wheeler on Wednesday, and Steven Matz on Friday against Milwaukee.
“They’ve never pitched together one time through?” Callaway asked. “Pretty cool. It’ll be nice to see.”
Calloway stated that he was considering having Seth Lugo make his first start of the 2018 season, but opted to go with Wheeler instead who hasn’t pitched since last July.
The 27-year-old Wheeler went 3-7 with a 5.21 ERA in 17 starts last season, and began this year in Triple-A Las Vegas where he only gave up one run in a five-inning start.
Wheeler missed the entire 2015 season, and only appeared in one inning in 2016, due to Tommy John surgery. In 2014, Wheeler had a .500 record of 11-11 with a 3.54 ERA in 32 starts.
The Mets signed Jason Vargas for additional rotation help, but underwent surgery on his non-throwing hand in March. Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman are always rotation options, but have combined for seven scoreless innings in relief so far this season, so giving Wheeler the start in this week’s rotation seems like the right move, or at the very least, a curios one.
“Spot starts, or whatever you want to call them, turn into five-year careers sometimes, because you just never know what’s going to happen,” Callaway said. “Bring him up, let him start and go from there.”
The New York Mets are off to a 6-1 start on the season and currently reign in first place in the National League East.