MLB

Wheeler’s ‘ready’ for Mets debut

LAS VEGAS — All signs point to Zack Wheeler making one final Triple-A start Thursday before making his Mets debut next Tuesday in Atlanta.

Despite some command problems in his previous outing, the right-hander believes he is prepared to take the next step.

“Overall, I feel like I’m ready,” Wheeler said yesterday.

He’s not exactly perfect, though. Wheeler tired in the fifth inning in his last start and admitted to some difficulty with his arm slot.

“My past two starts, I haven’t been happy with my command, especially my last start,” Wheeler said. “In the fifth inning I started to leave a lot of balls up. It happens. You just need to find the command and feel more comfortable with your mechanics.”

Las Vegas manager Wally Backman agreed Wheeler is a work in progress.

“It would have been nice to maybe to have him a little bit longer, but there’s a need,” Backman said. “I think the command part of it [needs work]. The more that he pitches, the better he’s going to become. And he’s going to be fine. He’s going to continue to learn at the major-league level and against tougher lineups.”

In a workout yesterday before Las Vegas hosted Tacoma, Wheeler focused on the control issue.

“I think my arm angle was dropping a bit,” Wheeler said. “I’m trying to get back on top of the ball. I think that’s what it is. I just can’t find a consistent arm angle.”

Backman remains confident Wheeler will be successful, whenever he gets the call.

“His stuff plays, big time,” Backman said. “He’s going to be able to get away with stuff that the average big-league starter can’t get away with.”

Backman has been impressed with Wheeler’s entire repertoire.

“His stuff is plus,” Backman said. “He doesn’t have one average major-league pitch — they’re all above average. When he’s on and he’s right, he’s pretty unhittable, I think. I look forward to seeing him out there.”

Wheeler just wants to get the call.

“I’m just anxious,” Wheeler said. “I’m anxious to get out there and get my first one over with and just to be mentally ready when I go out there. That’s the big thing.”