Mets will likely start Zack Wheeler against Braves

Although the New York Mets will give Zack Wheeler one more Triple-A start before calling him up, the top prospect will likely make his debut against the NL East rival Atlanta Braves. Citing “an organization source”, ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin and Matt Ehalt report that the Mets are targeting a five-game series in four days (there is a double-header on the 18th) against the Braves to give Wheeler his debut, largely because they will need an extra starter for that aforementioned double-header game.

Wheeler’s MLB debut is highly-anticipated, and it is definitely a day to circle the calendar for. Mets fans will no doubt be excited to see this guy take the mound, and he has looked solid in the ever-tough PCL (Pacific Coast League). Wheeler, 23, has done an amazing job generating punchouts in Triple-A, and he currently has a 4-1 record despite a 4.14 ERA (again, the PCL is really tough).

Mets manager Terry Collins has gone out of his way to praise Zack Wheeler several times, and the Mets actually, according to ESPN New York, had a game next week against the Chicago Cubs penciled in as Wheeler’s debut. However, the additional wait is a prudent move for the Mets to make, because they won’t have to worry about Wheeler being eligible for arbitration a year earlier.

The Mets are smart for not taking chances on an early arbitration with the strikeout-artist and top right-handed prospect, and we’ll see exactly when Wheeler gets his start and debut against the Atlanta Braves.