DETROIT — Zack Wheeler allowed an unearned run over one inning in his first minor league rehab start for Single-A St. Lucie on Saturday, starting the clock on his potential return to the Mets. He threw just 17 pitches and was removed because of a rain delay.
If Wheeler doesn’t incur a setback he would be in position to rejoin the Mets within three to four weeks.
The right-hander has been sidelined for the past 17 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Twice this season, Wheeler has suffered setbacks in his rehab.
Jose Reyes took a positive first step toward rejoining the Mets within the next week.
The veteran infielder had a “good” workout in Port St. Lucie, Fla., according to manager Terry Collins, and will play a simulated game Monday.
If he passes that test, Reyes, who is recovering from an oblique strain, could appear in a minor league game as soon as Tuesday.
Reyes’ workouts will come at shortstop, the position he likely will play upon returning.
Matt Reynolds and Wilmer Flores have handled the position since last weekend, when Asdrubal Cabrera strained a knee tendon and subsequently was placed on the disabled list.
Collins employed a lineup that included Ty Kelly (2-for-4) in left field and Rene Rivera (0-for-1) as the designated hitter in an attempt to play as many righty bats as possible against Tigers lefty Matt Boyd in the Mets’ 6-5 loss Saturday. The manager plans to start Michael Conforto — who replaced Rivera and went 1-for-2 — on Sunday, but his poor numbers against lefties excluded him from consideration for a Saturday start.
Entering play, Conforto was hitting just .109 against lefties this season.
“There is a fine line you have got to walk here,” Collins said. “Are we going to develop guys or are we going to put the best lineup that we think is going to allow us to win? And right now we’ve got to win some games.”