MLB

Benefiting from Amazin’s ‘Wheel’ deal

In case you missed it, the Mets’ dynamic duo for the future was on full display Tuesday. Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler joined forces and helped the Mets dominate the day, taking both games of a doubleheader from the rival Braves.

If Tuesday was a sign of things to come, Mets fans and fantasy owners alike should be ready to celebrate (though, fantasy owners obviously have the better chance of winning a trophy this year … and next year).

Despite making his first big league start on the road (near where he grew up) against a division rival, Wheeler was as good as advertised. Fantasy owners who drafted and stashed the young right-hander, or those who were lucky enough to pluck him from the waiver wire when they heard the date had been set for his debut, were smiling cheek-to-cheek. It’s not as if he was facing the Marlins lineup … wait, let’s go with the Astros’ lineup, since the Mets can’t beat the Marlins if their lives depended on it this season.

Wheeler stymied the Braves, allowing just four hits over six shutout innings and striking out seven en route to his first victory in The Show. This came hours after Harvey’s masterful 13-strikeout performance to earn his sixth victory.

There are a few things, however, fantasy owners must be wary of when it comes to Wheeler. The first is his control. He walked five batters in his debut, leaving his WHIP at 1.50. Of his 102 pitches, just 55 were strikes.

It may seem like splitting hairs when the 23-year-old shut out a formidable lineup the first time he took a big league mound, but as electric as his stuff is, allowing that many base runners each game will increase the chances of runs being scored and reduce the number of innings he pitches. Five walks per game will not help your team’s WHIP for the week.

Twice on Tuesday, Wheeler walked two batters in an inning. All it takes is one hit or one “Mets being the Mets” error for Wheeler’s line to go from good to bad.

As exciting as it is to see the future of the Mets and your fantasy squad unfold before your eyes (and the Amazin’s have even more young pitchers waiting in the wings), the other thing to realize when starting Wheeler in 2013 is this: He’s on the Mets! As good as Harvey is now, he went 2-5 in the nine starts he made after his victorious July 26 debut last year. It’s not hard to imagine Wheeler running into the same issues — it’s his first go-around in the bigs and he won’t be perfect.

Wheeler will pitch his best, but there will be games in which he won’t get a ton of run support (look at Harvey, he should have at least nine or 10 wins by now) and his best won’t be enough.

As a fantasy owner, you should expect Wheeler to have moments that will make you shake your head in amazement, but you also have to expect moments when you’ll just shake your head. You take the good with the bad, as you did when Harvey was called up last year. But you have a viable piece for your fantasy rotation this season and a keeper for years to come.

The Mets aren’t the only team with impressive young talent earning fantasy owners’ trust immediately. Here’s a look at some other young guns worth starting immediately:

Gerrit Cole, Pirates: The flame-throwing 22-year-old only struck out three batters in his first two big league starts (both wins) before making his third last night.

Jeff Locke, Pirates: This 25-year-old, who is 6-1 with a 2.01 ERA and 1.13 WHIP, should be a Locke for your rotation to go along with Cole.

Shelby Miller, Cardinals: He left Monday’s game with what is said to be a cramp, but that’s not cramping this 22-year-old’s style. He has eight wins, 96 strikeouts, a 2.08 ERA and the fourth lowest WHIP in the NL (0.96).

Julio Teheran, Braves: In his first full season as a starter, the 22-year-old was 5-3 with a 3.36 ERA and 1.24 WHIP going into his 14th start last night.

Tyler Chatwood, Rockies: If you pick your matchups wisely, this 23-year-old righty can be a nice pickup (available in 89 percent of ESPN leagues) despite his high WHIP (1.37 before starting last night). He doesn’t strike out a ton, but hasn’t allowed a ton of runs this season either (2.33 ERA, but is at 4.55 for his career).

Follow Roto Files on Twitter @NYPost_Roto