Latest outing makes case for Collins to let righty take the 5th

JUPITER — Zack Wheeler knows there is nothing he can say. Coming off a two-year rehab from 2015 Tommy John surgery, the Mets righthander knew the team was close to making the final roster decision when he took the mound Monday. So he went out and made the only argument he could.

“I went out there and I did the best I could today,” Wheeler said. “I knew today was a big day for me, not really much more to say. I did the best that I could.

“Now, I leave it up to them and what they want to do and how they want to go and how they want to handle it.”

Wheeler pitched five scoreless innings, allowing two hits, walking two and striking out three against the Marlins’ regular lineup in the Mets’ 5-0 win at Roger Dean Stadium. He pounded the strike zone with a fastball that sat between 93-95 mph and touched 97. He also left the Mets with a good impression after an outing on Wednesday that had disappointed not only with his lack of command, but also in his demeanor on the mound when he got in trouble.

The Mets were pleased that Wheeler realized he needed to command his pitches and his body language as well Monday.

“It’s common sense coming into today, I needed to pitch a little better,” Wheeler said. “Today was more of a game for me and getting locked in a little bit more and really concentrated out there on the mound and tried to get ahead of guys and that’s what I did.”

Now, it is out of Wheeler’s hands, but it sounds like he has made enough of an impression.

“If he’s ready, there is no sense in him using up innings in extended spring,” a Mets source said. “There’s an argument to make that if he’s ready, then figure out a way to use those innings (in the big leagues).”

The Mets will have their final roster meetings Tuesday and one topic that will be hotly debated is whether to use Wheeler’s limited innings now or later. The expected innings limit is believed to be around 130 innings.

According to the source, some in the organization think that since Wheeler has shown he can get major league hitters out they shouldn’t waste any of his innings in extended spring training. They argue he can be managed in the major leagues. They can limit his starts to five innings and just shut him down early. Or they can use him as a long man out of the bullpen with very strict rules for his use — starting clean innings and no back-to-backs — and then working him into the rotation as a sixth man.

Wheeler has seemed to soften on the idea of coming out of the bullpen after being opposed to it at the beginning of spring. He is physically bouncing back quicker than he did before he had surgery, which was a concern. He also realizes he doesn’t have much of a say in this either.

“It’s up to them. It doesn’t really matter what I say or anything like that,” Wheeler said. “It’s up to them and all you can is go out there and pitch and try to do well. It’s up to them.”

Terry Collins knows that Wheeler was anxious to make an impression Monday. The Mets manager said there are a lot of factors— including the health of Steven Matz — to consider on Tuesday.

“We’ve got to decide whether or not he

should be there. The kind of pressure we are going to put on him is a lot and he hasn’t done that in a long time,” Collins said. “By throwing strikes his stuff is so good, he is somebody you got to say ‘Hey look, you got to give him the ball every five days and see what he can do early in the season.’ Get his feet wet. “Those decisions will come shortly.” After two years, the decision that will bring him back to the majors can’t come soon enough for Wheeler. He spent the past two years in Port St. Lucie, he’s ready to leave when the team breaks camp Thursday afternoon.

“It would be frustrating but it’s part of it,” Wheeler said. “I only got so many innings this year. It’s just a part of it.”

Wheeler made his best case to be a part of Opening Day on Monday and now he waits for a decision.