Robert Gsellman likely to start 2017 in Mets’ rotation

With the New York Mets’ one-through-four starting pitchers in the rotation all but set coming into the 2017 season, many penciled in Zack Wheeler as the fifth starter of what could be a historic starting five. But as Mike Puma and others who cover the Mets have noted, it would be a major surprise if the fifth starter is anyone other than Robert Gsellman.

After being called up due to Steven Matz hitting the disabled list in August of last year, Gsellman proceeded to take over for an injured Jon Niese and never looked back. He had a 2.42 ERA and a 2.63 FIP with the Mets, allowing more than two earned runs in just two of his seven starts down the stretch.

Other possible candidates for the fifth starting pitching spot include the aforementioned Wheeler—though it seems unlikely after reports of the Mets’ plan of keeping him around 125 innings this season—and Seth Lugo.