MLB

One pitcher has turned it around, and the Mets are surging

As the Mets have found their groove, so has Zack Wheeler.

The good vibes at Citi Field continued Friday night, thanks in part to another fine outing from the hard-throwing right-hander.

Wheeler held the opposition to one earned run for the third straight start, scattering five hits, walking two and striking out six over 6 ²/₃ innings, and was the beneficiary of the Mets’ big night at the plate in a 7-1 rout of the Marlins.

“It’s definitely a big thing because I’ve had an up-and-down season,” Wheeler said, conceding his mediocrity so far. “It’s definitely the way I wanted to finish [the first half of the season].”

Wheeler (5-8) didn’t just dominate on the mound. He joined in on the Mets’ potent offense, stroking an RBI double off the left-field fence in the second inning. He threw 114 pitches, 75 for strikes, and navigated jams in the fourth and fifth, allowing just a Christian Yelich RBI single.

“Everything feels great,” he said. “I feel in a nice rhythm, I’m staying on top of the ball. A lot easier to pitch like that, getting ahead of guys, throwing a lot more strikes.”

It was another brilliant effort against Miami, which Wheeler owns. In five career starts across 34 ²/₃ innings, Wheeler has a 1.11 ERA and has allowed just two extra-base hits, to go along with two wins and no losses.

“I don’t know, just one of those things I guess,” he said. “I control all my pitches against those guys.”

Wheeler’s last three starts, two of them victories, have been solid, if unspectacular. He has gone at least six innings and allowed just a single run in each outing. If you go back to his three-hit shutout against the Marlins on June 16, Wheeler has pitched very well in four of five starts — the kind of consistency the Mets have been looking for out of the young righty.

“I see a guy who’s really maturing on the mound,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “He’s starting to trust his stuff, he doesn’t think he has to be perfect all the time. You’re seeing much more consistent velocity throughout the game.

“He’s getting to know what he’s got to do to get outs at this level. If we can continue to execute on the offensive side, this guy is going to win a lot of games in the second half.”