New York Mets waste great Zack Wheeler start vs Arizona Diamondbacks

ByKenneth Teape|May 16, 2017, 6:00 AM EDT

May 15, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; New York Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler throws in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets wasted arguably the best start by Zack Wheeler this season on Monday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

TheNew York Metsare not playing good baseball currently. Injuries have really hurt the team as they seem to lose an important player once a week.Yoenis CespedesandNoah Syndergaard, arguably their two best players, are both on the disabled list.

They are joined by a number of teammates.David Wright,Steven Matz, andSeth Lugohave yet to see the field this season.Travis d’Arnaudhas already made his yearly trip to the DL. CloserJeurys Familiahad to undergo surgery for a blood clot this week and could miss the remainder of the season.

Those injuries are a big reason why the Mets are struggling so mightily. The Mets entered their series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on a four-game losing streak. After losing the series finale to the San Francisco Giants, the Mets were swept out of Miller Park by the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend.

That is what made Monday’s loss that much more painful. With the team as a whole struggling, the Mets desperately needed someone to step up with a big performance.Zack Wheelerstepped up and made it happen.

Wheeler fired off arguably his best start of the season. It is now two strong performances in a row for Wheeler who is shaking off the rust after missing the past two seasons because ofTommy Johnsurgery. On Monday against the Diamondbacks, he delivered a performance the Mets were desperate for.

Wheeler gave the Mets six strong innings. He gave up seven hits but walked only one. Only a single run was surrendered, a home run off the bat ofJake Lambin the sixth inning. Wheeler also added six strikeouts. What was possibly the most impressive takeaway is that Wheeler set a new season high in pitches, throwing 108.

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Wheeler seems to be building his arm strength back up. That is excellent news for a Mets team whose starting pitching depth, once a strength has been decimated. Unfortunately for Wheeler, the Mets were unable to make the most of his start.

The Mets bullpen, mainlyHansel Robles, would implode.Jerry Blevinswas able to get out two of the three batters he faced; Robles did not perform as well. The Diamondbacks would tag Robles for five runs in the eighth inning.

Robles would surrender two home runs in the inning. Yosmany Tomas launched a three-run homer to get things going, scoringPaul Goldschmidtand Lamb.Jeff Mathiswould then hit a two-run homer, scoringBrandon Drury.

Robles would be pulled after that, but the Diamondbacks were not done tacking on runs.Josh Edginwould enter for Robles and promptly have a pitch deposited in right field byDaniel Descalso. Mathis and Descalso are both hitting under .200 on the season to put into perspective how poorly things are going for the Mets currently.

The Mets are an absolute mess on their pitching staff right now. It cost them against the Brewers, asTerry CollinsaskedAddison Reedto get five outs. It cost them again last night against the Diamondbacks.

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That is the type of performance that the Mets needed from Wheeler. He delivered, but the rest of the team could not pick him up. Things are not looking good for the Mets right now, as their season could be teetering on the brink despite it being only May 16th.

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