Wheeler Pitching Like He Wants To Get Traded

Zack Wheeler took to the mound three years to the date he and Wilmer Flores were almost traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Carlos Gomez. While we got to see Flores’ reaction to the trade, we never did quite see Wheeler’s reaction.

At the time, he was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery; a result of him being diagnosed with a torn UCL on the eve what would be a magical 2015 season.  Wheeler would sit down with Sandy Alderson to tell him he didn’t want to leave.  He wanted to be a part of this team and whatever they could do next.

Even in this lost season, Wheeler has consistently maintained he wants to be a Met.

Well, if Wheeler really wants to be a Met, then he needs to stop pitching this well as Major League Baseball heads towards the trade deadline.

Wheeler completed dominated a Pirates team in the thick of the Wild Card race.

Wheeler would put on a show pitching six scoreless against a Pirates team in the Wild Card race.  He would pitch six scoreless in an all around dominant effort with him walking out just one batter and striking out seven.

With the Mets giving him Jacob deGrom like run support, Wheeler would take matters into his own hands.

After a Luis Guillorme two out single, Wheeler would double him home to give him a 1-0 lead. This would make the second straight game he has hit a double, which would make him a much hitter than Jose Reyes:

In the top of the seventh, Mickey Callaway would have a decision to make.  The Mets had runners on second and third with two outs and Wheeler’s spot coming up.  Even with Wheeler being one of the better hitters in the lineup, Callaway opted to go with Michael Conforto.

Conforto would not start the game because he jammed his thumb.  Even with the jammed thumb, the Pirates were scared enough to intentionally walk him to face Amed Rosario.  Rosario didn’t come through, but he Mets bullpen would.

First, Seth Lugo pitched two scoreless before giving the ball to Anthony Swarzak, who converted his second save chance with the Mets.  With respect to Swarzak, he’s been much better since Jeurys Familia was traded.  There may be any number of factors, including his getting fully healthy and his making adjustments.  Whatever the case, he’s looked and been dominant, giving the Mets a real weapon in the ninth inning.

But the story was Wheeler, who for the first time in his career, has won three consecutive starts.  In those games, he has a 2.61 ERA, 1.016 WHIP, and a 4.25 K/BB ratio.  This has left the Mets with a dilemma.  Do you keep him and have him take a step further forward next year, or do you cash in now?

Given how he wants to be here, and how he’s pitching, it may just make sense to keep him.

Game Notes:  With the split, this marks the first time the Mets did not lose consecutive series since May 15 – 20 when they split a two game series with the Blue Jays and swept the Diamondbacks.

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