Mets sweep up
CLUB 4 HOMERS IN ROUT SEE SPORTS
SAN FRANCISCO — Hours before first pitch, the Mets got the performance they needed. On the bullpen mound with just a few autograph seekers watching, Zack Wheeler threw for the first time since he was put on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis. The righthander threw hard and worked for a good half hour with pitching coach Dan Warthen.
As he walked off, Warthen said Wheeler looked and felt good, but he stopped short of saying when the righty would pitch next. A team source, however, said the Mets expect Wheeler back for Friday’s series opener against the Phillies at Citi Field.
That was even more important than the Mets’ 8-2 victory over the struggling Giants Sunday. The win completed a sweep of the three-game series as the Mets started to try digging out of the deep hole their pitching put them in to start the season.
“It changes a lot. We got to get some confidence back and it all starts with how we’ve pitched,” Terry Collins said. “Hopefully we can build on it.”
It was only the second time this season the Mets have swept a series of any length. It put them seven games below .500 and 11 games back in the division.
So, this is going to be a long, uphill battle to get back to relevancy, not to mention getting into competition for the postseason. On Sunday, Fangraphs put the Mets’ postseaon odds at 6.4%.
And they can’t even dream of doing it without Wheeler.
The Mets put Wheeler on the disabled list last week more because they felt the 27-year-old needed the rest. Wheeler had allowed 15 earned runs — including five home runs — in 3.2 innings over his last two starts. He had allowed 15 earned runs in his eight starts combined.
With Wheeler coming back from March 2015 Tommy John surgery, after a 2016 filled with setbacks, the Mets felt he was going through a period of fatigue.
Wheeler basically had to throw at 100% this spring to try and convince the Mets to bring him north instead of leaving him behind for extended spring
training. The Mets were not surprised he started to feel a little tired a week ago and were glad he was receptive when they talked about him missing a start to rest.
After precautionary exams and an MRI and CT scan two weeks ago in New York, the Mets were convinced Wheeler’s arm was fine but needed extended rest. Sunday, watching him throw confirmed their suspicions.
And for Collins, Rafael Montero provided some peace of mind.
With four pitchers on the DL now (including ace Noah Syndergaard and closer Jeurys Familia), Seth Lugo trying to pitch with a partially torn UCL and Steven Matz having a history of injuries, Collins and the Mets needed some good news regarding their pitching.
“We know if we need a guy we got a good one,” Collins said, referring to Montero, if Wheeler doesn’t start on Friday.
The 26-year-old has now strung together three straight solid performances. The one-time top Mets prospect, who had fallen out of favor because of his inability to throw strikes, has given the Mets what they have needed all season. The bullpen has been overtaxed by the inability to get starters deeper into games earlier this season and the lack of a reliable long-man.
Using a changeup that he threw with more velocity than he had in the past, Montero attacked the strike zone Sunday. He struck out seven, holding the Giants to one run on five hits and two walks.
“I feel a lot more confidence in my pitching,” Montero said through a team interpreter. “My changeup was Agood for me.” nd that gives the Mets a little more confidence in their pitching.
“I hope this is what we’re gonna see from now on because his stuff is good enough,” Collins said. “His stuff plays. He’s got a good arm, got quality stuff. I’m hoping he’s grown up now and knows how to use it.”
That would be big for the Mets bullpen and the staff as they struggle to get back to .500.