PHILADELPHIA — Zack Wheeler’s season is over before he can potentially scare the Mets stiff.
The rookie right-hander has been scratched from his scheduled Monday start in Cincinnati — which would have been his final appearance of 2013 — after incurring “stiffness” in his shoulder during his performance against the Giants on Tuesday.
Manager Terry Collins cited Wheeler’s workload and said the shutdown was precautionary, especially in the aftermath of Matt Harvey’s torn ulnar collateral ligament that could necessitate the Mets ace undergoing Tommy John surgery. Wheeler told Collins the stiffness has subsided in recent days, but that wasn’t enough to sway team brass.
“Fatigue leads to injuries,” Collins said before the Mets’ 5-4 rain-shortened victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. “[Wheeler] is starting to wear down. He’s the one who has been talking about how tired he’s getting, anyway. But he did want to pitch one more time.”
Wheeler, who is 7-5 with a 3.42 ERA in 17 starts for the Mets, has pitched 168 ²/₃ combined innings this season at Triple-A and the major leagues. The Mets’ original plan was to cap Wheeler at 180 innings. Last season, he pitched 149 innings in the minors.
“This is a group decision,” Wheeler said of the early shutdown. “I’m 20 innings over what I had last year and [the shoulder] is a little stiff, so we’re just being precautious and going from here.”
Wheeler wanted to throw a bullpen session on Saturday, but was told by Collins that wouldn’t be necessary. Aaron Harang will move up a day to pitch in Wheeler’s place on Monday. No tests are planned for Wheeler’s shoulder.
If Harvey can’t pitch next season — the right-hander will soon begin a rehab program he hopes will allow him to avoid Tommy John surgery — Wheeler could be in position to become the staff ace. Dillon Gee and Jon Niese are the other key components of Mets’ planned 2014 rotation.
“I don’t like to look at it as No. 1 or No. 2 guys,” Wheeler said. “It might just be me, but I don’t like to do the whole label thing, ‘The Guy’ or whatever. It’s just the other guy is down.
“We’ve got a good starting staff of five pitchers right now, and I think we can do well next year. I don’t like to be called The Guy or whatever, but I think we have good starting pitching and a bullpen to go with it.”
Collins expects Wheeler would be allowed to pitch 200 innings next season. The Mets might have other starters facing an innings limit, depending on who emerges from a group of prospects that includes Rafeal Montero, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard to possibly join the rotation next year.
Wheeler has few complaints about his rookie season.
“I wanted to get a job out of spring training, but I knew it was kind of a longshot,” said Wheeler, who made his major league debut on June 18. “I knew I would probably go to the minor leagues and pitch through that and do well and just get my shot up here. Once I did that, I just tried to take full advantage of it.”