Zack Wheeler scratched, will start again in six days

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, Zack Wheeler has been scratched from Saturday’s start due to a blister under his fingernail and tendinitis in his right elbow.

While speaking with reporters after Friday’s game, Sandy Alderson said that the tendinitis Wheeler is dealing with is the same thing he dealt with last Spring, and that no MRI is planned.

Wheeler, Alderson said, will skip Saturday’s start and reenter the rotation five days from then – next Thursday:

"“He had it looked at in the offseason”, Alderson said referring to Wheeler’s elbow. “This is something he experienced a little bit during the course of last season as well. It was managed. That’s what we expect this season. But we backed him off … for that reason. We don’t expect this is going to be serious — the tendinitis. Mostly it’s the finger that’s been a problem for him over the last few days.”"

Wheeler has dealt with blister issues throughout his career, and has had the issue pop up on a few occasions during his time with the Mets.

Tyler Pill will start in place of Wheeler on Saturday against the Nationals.

Thoughts:

Whenever a pitcher is skipped or held back, it’s something to keep an eye on. However, the situation with Zack Wheeler doesn’t seem to be anything serious.

That Wheeler is already on the schedule for his next start should tell you all you need to know about the severity of his ailments, and the fact that he isn’t being sent for an MRI suggests just how minor the Mets believe this to be.

As is the case with any injury – no matter how minor – during Spring Training, the smart move is to err on the side of caution. The games don’t count, making it pointless to ever push a player through an injury.