MLB

Collins: Mets’ Hefner has deserved better fate

Zack Wheeler is coming. Of that there is little doubt. But the eventual arrival of the Mets’ highly touted pitching prospect doesn’t necessarily mean Jeremy Hefner is going from the rotation.

“I don’t think there’s any question about it,” manager Terry Collins said about Hefner’s ability to remain in the rotation despite an 0-5 record. “That doesn’t mean he’s pitched poorly. … Jeremy Hefner could be a guy who certainly stays in this rotation.”

Hefner said he has gone through this before and has little control over the matter.

“I experienced it last year with Matt [Harvey], kind of the same situation. I don’t feel pressure. I think I’m good enough to be here,” Hefner said before the Mets’ 7-5 (10 innings) and 6-0 losses to the Braves Saturday night at Citi Field. “If my performance matches my expectation then I have no doubt in my mind I’ll stay.”

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* Ike Davis is not the only Met struggling offensively. Collins also has been concerned with Ruben Tejada, who did managed three hits in the nightcap — a bunt, an infield hit and a fly that dropped between two outfielders. But it’s a start.

“In a perfect world, he’d be the leadoff guy because he has such tough at bats,” Collins said of Tejada, who failed to deliver a 10th inning bunt in the continuation of Friday’s suspended game. “He’s making contact and hitting fly balls and that’s where he gets in trouble. We’ve got to get him fixed.”

Tejada’s bunt single in the third inning last night of the regular game was just his sixth hit in 46 at bats (.130). He followed with two more.

“I was really concerned about Ruben last week because of all the fly balls he’s hitting. That is not him,” said Collins, who found a new worry when Tejada popped out foul trying to sacrifice with runners on first and second and no outs in the 10th inning of the first game.

“I’m a little surprised because he’s such a fundamentally sound player,” Collins said.

“We’re so used to these guys executing the little things, it gets your attention. … Ruben is such a consistent player when something happens all of a sudden it’s a story.”

* Relievers Jeurys Familia (hold) and Scott Atchison (save) each threw one perfect inning of rehab at Single-A Port St. Lucie with a strikeout each in a 1-0 win over Bradenton.

* Joey Falcone, a 26-year-old Army veteran and outfielder for NCAA tourney-bound Columbia, will be one of the military representatives who will throw out the ceremonial first pitch tonight at the sixth annual Mets/USO sponsored Military Appreciation Night.

Falcone is the son of former Met Pete Falcone.