THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE
Zack makes pitch for an extension with dominant effort in seventh straight win
CHICAGO — Now that his status for this season is settled, Zack Wheeler can try getting Mets officials to consider 2020 and beyond.
Thursday, a day after the Mets retained the right-hander at the trade deadline, was a good place for Wheeler to start in convincing team brass: His pitches were crisp, efficient and nearly unhittable by the White Sox.
The drum bang for a Wheeler contract extension is underway following the Mets’ 4-0 victory at Guaranteed Rate Field that extended their season-long winning streak to seven games.
The Mets, who sliced their deficit in the wild-card race to four games, will open a threegame series on Friday in Pittsburgh against a team they swept last weekend.
Wheeler, in his second start since returning from the injured list with shoulder fatigue, fired seven shutout innings in which he allowed four hits and struck out seven. Overall, Mets starting pitchers have a 2.22 ERA since the All-Star break to lead the major leagues. The Mets are 13-5 over that stretch.
“Everything is clicking right now and we’re just rolling, so let’s see if we can keep it going,” Wheeler said.
In deciding to keep Wheeler (8-6, 4.45 ERA) at the trade deadline, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen indicated a desire to explore a working relationship that would reach beyond even extending a qualifying offer to the pitcher, who can head to free agency after the season.
“We’re going to answer that when the time comes, but I love playing here,” Wheeler said. “I love the guys here and we’ll see what it comes to.”
Wheeler retired the first 11 batters he faced before Jose Abreu hit a liner off a diving Amed Rosario’s glove for a single. Wheeler’s outing was his 10th this season of at least seven innings.
“That was probably one of the better games I have ever seen him pitch,” manager Mickey Callaway said. “He was relaxed, fluid, just executing pitch after pitch, not overthrowing at all, kept his pitch count down, just a tremendous job.”
Callaway removed Wheeler after 88 pitches, citing the fact the right-hander had thrown only 73 in his return start from the IL.
“We could have kept on pushing him, but I feel like seven innings with the added warm-up pitches, going that deep in the game, it felt like he did his job at that point,” Callaway said. “Had he thrown 95 pitches the game before it would have been a different story, but 73 to 88, I thought that was a good jump.”
The Mets seized control in the sixth, when Wilson Ramos’ single brought in two runs to give the Mets a 4-0 lead. Ramos received only one RBI on the play, after catcher Welington Castillo couldn’t scoop the throw home and was charged with an error.
Robinson Cano, who had homered earlier in the game, stroked an RBI double in the inning after Adeiny Hechavarria walked leading off and Jeff McNeil singled.
Cano homered leading off the second to give the Mets their first run. The blast was Cano’s 10th of the season, giving the Mets nine players in double figures. It came amid questions to Callaway about the struggling Cano remaining in the cleanup spot.
“I would say this team is sticking together, defense, offense and pitching,” Cano said. “One of the great things about this team is that we have got a good chemistry here. The difference is when you win you get to celebrate.”