The Mets’s arrival this week has brought more than just an extended winning streak to Atlanta.
To Jacob Wheeler, it has brought his brother and roommate home, if only for a little while.
Jacob’s youngest brother, Mets starting pitcher Zack Wheeler, made his Major League debut against the Braves at Turner Field last June — a 6-1 victory with six scoreless innings — and ever since, Wheeler has continued to find success on his home turf.
Why? Who knows? But he is 3-1 against his old hometown team.
“We got a good scouting report on them (the Braves) and I’ve been able to execute a lot of my pitches when I face them,” he said. “I have been a little inconsistent this year and I did have trouble with them last time in New York. It was one of those games I was a little off of my command. But I was able to locate (Monday) night.”
Wheeler pitched well in the series opener, working six innings while allowing four hits, one run with four strikeouts before the Mets lost the lead in the eight inning. While he remains 3-1 with Monday’s no-decision in six starts against Atlanta, he is 7-12 against all other teams.
“I think it may be coincidence,” brother Jacob said. “… Like last night, he went high in almost every count but that’s him trying to make them swing at his pitch and not go and up there and hit a fastball they were looking for. I think it’s more of that than probably him having their number or anything like that.”
Wheeler, a former Gatorade high school player of the year in Georgia, was drafted from East Paulding High School by San Francisco in the first round of the 2009 amateur draft. Shortly after, he bought a house to share with Jacob during the offseason in near their hometown of Smyrna.
While Jacob has no doubts that Zack is a talented pitcher, he may lack a few skills as a roommate. Moving from hotel to hotel during the season hasn’t allowed Zack to develop housekeeping skills. Luckily his older brother is on hand to help.
“When he gets home he’s not thinking about, ‘Hey, I need to put this cup in the dishwasher.’ The trash just sits there,” said Jacob, who is nine years older than Zack. “Usually it takes him a couple of months to get into the routine but as soon as he gets in the routine, it’s time to go.”
Despite the unattended dirty dish or two, both agreed the mid-season trip home was a pleasant perk.
“I think once he usually gets into Georgia, he wants to come home, to sleep in his own bed, hang out with his friends,” Jacob said. “Get a piece of home during the middle of the season, which has got to be nice for him.”
Zack said he’s been spending most of the time when he’s not at Turner Field at home just having “brother time.” He went to breakfast with friends Martin’s Restaurant in Dallas near the Wheeler’s home.
“I was glad to pitch the first game here and just relax the rest of the time and enjoy my time here,” Zack said.
