On the same day the Mets found out burgeoning ace Matt Harvey likely needs Tommy John surgery, they got some good news with possible next-in-line Zack Wheeler taking another step forward. He issued just one walk while striking out seven over 6 2/3 innings against the Phillies Monday. He has now issued 1.8 walks per nine innings over his last four starts after issuing 5.0 per nine over his first nine. And yet his strikeout rate has only improved.
He's realizing he has good enough stuff to go right after hitters even at the big-league level. Once Harvey came to that realization, it was off to the races. People like to harp on Wheeler's 4.0 walks per nine innings over his minor-league career, but let's not forget Harvey issued 3.9 walks per nine innings in 20 starts at Triple-A Buffalo before his promotion last year.
With Wheeler, the stuff is too good and the scouting reports too favorable for you to get hung up on the details. He'll figure it out, and if his last four starts are any indication, it's already happening. I'm comfortable ranking him 54th among starting pitchers the rest of the way.