On Sunday, Terry Collins said Zack Wheeler is in consideration to start on Opening Day against the Nationals, reports Kristie Ackert of the Daily News.
“I’ve told Dan we’ll decide who the Opening Day starter is, but this kid is involved,” Collins said, according to Ackert. “The numbers I saw the second half, he deserves to be.”
Collins noted Wheeler has had success against the Braves, who the Mets play in their second series of the season in Atlanta. A determination will be made as the team progresses through Spring Training.
Ackert says Matt Harvey is the only pitcher not in consideration to start on Opening Day.
In eight career starts against the Nationals, Wheeler is 2-6 with a 5.09 ERA in 46 innings. He’s 4-2 with a 2.94 ERA in eight career starts against the Braves.
In the end, it’s more about the honor and privilege to start on opening day than anything else. Outside of the excitement that goes into the start of the season, most pitchers leave it at just that. In the Mets case, starting Wheeler, or Jacob deGrom could have a little more symbolism for the team than starting Bartolo Colon, for instance. I understand why the Mets might elect Colon the opening day starter, as he’s the senior pitcher on the staff. But, I’d personally like to see one of the younger guys go – they represent what this era of the club is supposed to be about, and they serve as an image for their future brand.
Just Mets 