As great as the Harvey Show is for the Mets, the bottom line is this team needs two star pitchers to make a difference because of the lack of offense.
If Zack Wheeler can follow in Matt Harvey’s footsteps, the Mets will have two tremendous power pitchers for years to come.
In the post-steroids era, the value of two power starters cannot be understated. A true power pitcher in this generation of wild swingers is worth his weight in baseball gold, and to have two of them would catapult any team to success — even the Mets.
Wheeler takes Step 2 in the process of becoming a major league starter tonight at U.S. Cellular Field against the last-place White Sox and lefty Chris Sale, who was taken six spots after Harvey in the 2010 draft. Wheeler pitched six scoreless innings against the Braves to win his debut last Tuesday.
It’s all about having two star pitchers these days, as catcher John Buck — who had worked so well in developing Harvey — can attest.
“If we can get Wheeler going, that’s an impressive 1-2,’’ Buck told The Post. “Then you can see the same type of program developing here that you see over in Washington.’’
Only the Nationals and Cardinals had two starting pitchers in the top 10 in the majors in starting pitchers’ ERA. Washington’s Jordan Zimmermann (2.26) was sixth and Stephen Strasburg (2.40) was 10th. The Cardinals boasted Adam Wainwright (2.31) in the eighth spot and Shelby Miller (2.35) in ninth.
Harvey is No. 3 with a 2.05 ERA and leads all starters with a 0.88 WHIP.
In his second major league start last year, Harvey lost to the Giants and Tim Lincecum, the first of three straight defeats. Harvey pitched well that day, but he surrendered three walks and Ruben Tejada made a costly error. The challenge for Wheeler is his command must be better against the White Sox than it was against the Braves, when he walked five batters and struck out seven.
“I expect the White Sox hitters to be a little more disciplined than the Braves,’’ said one scout who has seen both teams.
The Braves are second in the majors with 686 strikeouts; the White Sox were 13th with 569.
The Mets essentially have placed Wheeler on the same developmental path as they did Harvey. When Harvey came up last July, he made his first three starts on the road before making his Citi Field debut. Wheeler will make his first two starts on the road before making his Citi Field debut Sunday.
Before Harvey’s second major league start, this is what the scouts were telling me about the right-hander: “The action he got on his curveball was incredible,’’ one said. “He’s very athletic and repeats his delivery,’’ another said, before adding, “His only issue is that sometimes he gets under his fastball and pushes it.’’
Harvey isn’t pushing that fastball anymore. He’s on top of that pitch and hit 100 miles per hour again in Sunday’s 8-0 win over the Phillies. He’s also throwing his slider in the 91-93 mph range, which is basically unfair.
For Wheeler, it’s going to be all about gaining command.
Despite the Mets’ woes, David Wright likely will start at third base for the National League in the All-Star Game and Harvey deserves to start as well. To have two All-Star starters would be impressive.
If Wheeler can develop in a big way, the Mets are positioned to make an impact. Wheeler can’t try to be Harvey, but he can emulate his approach, work habits and competitive nature. Harvey’s offseason workout really put him over the top.
Harvey is simply out of this world right now.
“When he pitches we have the buzz of a Pedro Martinez start with the dominance of an early Pedro when he was with Montreal or Boston,” Wright told me. “It’s incredible. It really is.’’
It would be even more incredible if Wheeler can develop into a similar power ace. Wheels Up, Part II.