Mets’ Zack Wheeler not too worried about home runs he’s allowing

Zack Wheeler of the Mets pitches during the first inning against the... — Zack Wheeler of the Mets pitches during the first inning against the Giants at Citi Field on Thursday.

By Tim Healeytimothy.healey@newsday.comJune 6, 2019

Zack Wheeler has given up 11 homers in 13 starts this season, approaching his 2018 total of 14 homers (in 29 starts).

After the Mets beat the Giants, 7-3 — a game in which he went seven innings and gave up three runs (two homers) — Wheeler seemed not to be too worried about it. That can be attributed at least partly to the fact that home runs are up across baseball this year, 2.70 per game entering play Thursday, the highest average in major-league history.

Many in the game strongly believe, but won’t talk openly about, the baseballs are different in a way that allows them to fly farther.

“There’s been a couple questionable home runs, but obviously you can’t really say anything about it. You have to go out there and pitch and try to get outs,” Wheeler said. “When you’re making your pitches and guys are just putting their bat on the ball and it’s going a long way, you get kind of frustrated. Every fly ball today . . . I don’t know if it was going to go out or not.”

n Cano out

Robinson Cano was unavailable Thursday because of the left quadriceps tightness he experienced Wednesday, three innings into his return from an injury list stint for a strained left quad.

Mickey Callaway, asked if he was confident Cano would avoid the IL this time, said, “It’s hard to say. He wasn’t available during the game today, but he is feeling OK,” said Callaway, who before the game hoped Cano was available to pinch hit. “We’re going to evaluate him [Friday] and go from there. That’s the only update I have.”