Wheeler struggles in Mets’ loss to Cardinals

New York — Before the Mets began this series against the Cardinals, starters Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey threw to each other in the outfield grass.

The pair started their throwing programs Monday, and are hoping to return this season.

Those potential returns will not be in the near future, though, and the Mets are going to have to try to make a playoff push while employing a thin rotation.

Monday's game provided yet another reminder of how hard a proposition that is with Zack Wheeler struggling in a 6-3 loss to St. Louis at Citi Field. Wheeler allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings, and the Cardinals scored all of their runs in the sixth inning.

The Mets (41-49) have now lost two straight after opening the second half with two wins.

The second half began with the Mets receiving two quality starts from Jacob deGrom and Seth Lugo, but in the last two days the Mets have received poor outings from Wheeler and Steven Matz. Matz lasted just one-plus inning in Sunday's loss to the Rockies, while Wheeler's night came off the hinges in a one-run game in the sixth.

Wheeler had escaped damage through the first five innings despite throwing too many pitches in the zone, and the Cardinals finally made him pay in his final frame.

Yadier Molina reached on a slow roller to begin the sixth with the Mets leading 1-0, and the Cardinals took a 2-1 lead shortly after when Paul DeJong deposited a 3-2 fastball down the middle over the wall in right-center. Wheeler had earlier in the at-bat fired two pitches down the middle before DeJong made him pay for a third mistake.

Wheeler's night ended three batters later when he allowed an RBI double to Adam Wainwright to put the Mets in a 3-1 hole. St. Louis added three more runs in the inning when Hansel Robles, in his first game back, allowed a three-run homer to Tommy Pham.

Wheeler allowed seven hits and walked four batters in a 96-pitch effort, and seven of the final nine batters he faced reached base with one out of outs coming on a bunt.

The righty is now 3-7 with a 4.98 ERA and winless in eight starts since May 20, going 0-5 with a 6.39 ERA in this stretch after posting a 3.74 in his first eight starts.

As the Cardinals had their one big inning, the Mets had ample opportunities for big innings but went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

The first two runners reached in the first inning before being stranded, and a leadoff double went for naught in the second inning of a scoreless game.