Mets injury update: Zack Wheeler has elbow tenderness, will not pitch tomorrow

Zack Wheeler will not pitch in tomorrow’s spring training game against the Washington Nationals due mainly to elbow tenderness, but he's also dealing with a blister under his fingernail, according to Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal. Wheeler is not scheduled to get an MRI.

Last season the 24-year-old suffered from elbow tenderness and got it tested with a MRI in the offseason, according to Mike Vorkunov of NJ.com. Sandy Alderson told reporters that Wheeler’s elbow issue isn’t serious because he has experienced it before, which is hopefully more reassuring than it sounds.

In Wheeler’s first spring training start against the Miami Marlins, he pitched 1.2 innings, allowed six runs, struck out three, gave up two hits, walked two, and hit two batters. In 32 starts last season, Wheeler was 11-11 with a 3.54 ERA, 187 strikeouts, and 79 walks.

Right-handed pitcher Tyler Pill will start in Wheeler's place against the Nats. Pill was drafted by the Mets in the fourth round of the 2011 June amateur draft from California State University.