Wrapped into Zack Wheeler's absolutely dominant performance Tuesday night for the Mets was the fact that he accomplished something no other pitcher has done this season.

While dismantling the Phillies with his arm and bat, Wheeler became the first pitcher this season to throw a pitch of 100 MPH or more and hit a pitch 100 MPH or more.

As he was regularly reaching the high 90s with his fastball and touching 100, Wheeler also mixed in a double and this laser of a homer to left-center field -- the first of his career:

The Mets (13-10, 1.0 game up on Phillies for first place in NL East) face Philadelphia on Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what went down on Tuesday in case you missed it...

In the Mets' win over the Phillies on Tuesday night, Zack Wheeler was utterly dominant as he dismantled Philadelphia over 7.0 shutout innings >> Read more

A scout who has watched Zack Wheeler for many years sat in the stands at Citi Field on Tuesday night and offered a blunt assessment.

"This is the best I've ever seen him," said the scout, whose team has tried to trade for Wheeler in years past. "Hands down."

Perhaps even more exciting for the Mets, on a night that Wheeler struck out 11 batters in seven scoreless innings in an 8-0 win over Philadelphia, is that the pitcher himself didn't agree. Though pleased with his performance, Wheeler still doesn't think he has his best stuff.

Things got a bit testy at the end of the Mets' 9-0 win over the Phillies on Tuesday night at Citi Field. 

With two outs in the ninth inning, Mets reliever Jacob Rhame zipped a pitch behind Rhys Hoskins' head, who did not appreciate it. 

Hoskins began walking toward the mound and both benches began to clear but nothing further escalated as Hoskins was stopped by home plate umpire Scott Barry. 

Zack Wheeler had himself a night at Citi Field on Wednesday, as his pitching -- and hitting -- led the way to a Mets shoutout of the Phillies, 9-0.   >> Box score

Six things to know about Tuesday's game...

1) Wheeler absolutely shutdown the Phillies' offense with a strong performance on the bump, allowing five scattered hits and no runs over seven innings. The walks that have plagued him too didn't appear in this one, as he struck out 11 and didn't allow a free pass. Oh, Wheeler also helped himself at the plate. He not only ripped a two-RBI double to put the Mets on the board first, but he launched his first career homer as well for a total three RBI on the night.  

Brandon Nimmo is battling yet another injury. 

The Mets outfielder left Tuesday's game after the third inning with a left oblique twinge, the team announced. 

Nimmo, 25, reached base on an error in the second inning, which helped score a run. 

Zack Wheeler showed he can do it at the plate as well on Tuesday night, blasting an opposite field solo home run in the fourth inning off Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin to put the Mets up 4-0. 

The Mets need another starting pitcher and at least one addition to their bullpen.

There are options on the free-agent market, such as Gio Gonzalez, Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel, but Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen may also want to reach out to the Giants.

According to the Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the Giants are open to dealing relievers Tony Watson, Mark Melancon, Sam Dyson, Trevor Gott and Nick Vincent.

On Sunday, Noah Syndergaard continued to struggle on the mound after taking a loss against the Cardinals. But there may be a valid excuse this time. 

According to SNY's Andy Martino, Syndergaard was sick during his start. It's unknown what illness he had exactly, but "Thor" won't be cashing in that excuse for his poor performance. He allowed six runs, four earned on eight hits with five strikeouts and two walks over five innings. 

This opening month of the season hasn't seen the typical dominance that Syndergaard has displayed in the past. He owns a 5.90 ERA over five starts, and he admitted after his outing in St. Louis that he needs to turn it around soon. 

The Hospital for Special Surgery has been working with the Mets for over two decades, and it is now making the move down to the Domincan Republic. 

The Mets Academy down in the Dominican has partnered with HSS, and it will allow the hospital to have full medical integration within the Mets' training facility down there over the next several years. 

Hear what those involved had to say about the new partnership that benefits the academy immensely...

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

Bryce Harper's first ejection as a Philadelphia Phillie worked out nicely for the Mets, allowing them to deal with someone named Roman Quinn for two potentially important at-bats instead in a 5-1 win.

But in the long run it might have been a night the Phillies will remember as a tone-setter for the season and, to some degree, the Harper era, after Jake Arrieta called out the $330 million man for getting tossed, and basically said it's time he grows up.

The Mets look to avoid a three-game losing streak when they take on the Phillies in the second game of a three-game set on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. at Citi Field on SNY.

Mets notes

With the majority of their first-month games coming against division competition, it was going to be important for the Mets to start strong. So far, they're 10-7 against NL East opponents. ... Robinson Cano returns to the lineup after being hit in the hand Sunday in St. Louis. The Mets kept him out during Monday's win. The team leads the league with 15 HBP this season. ... Jeff McNeil's .384 batting average ranks fourth in baseball and he whacked his first home run of the year Monday. He has a .483 career average in 15 games against Philadelphia. 

As Jason Vargas struggles, the Mets have remained in touch with free agent starting pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Keuchel. Here's the latest on Gonzalez...

April 23, 2:08 PM:

Gonzalez is currently "sorting through multiple offers," reports MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, who adds that a signing doesn't appear imminent.

The Mets (12-10, tied for first place in NL East with Phillies) face Philadelphia on Tuesday night at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what went down on Monday in case you missed it...

In the Mets' win over the Phillies on Monday night, Steven Matz rebounded in a big way, Jeff McNeil hit his first homer of the season, and Pete Alonso continued to rake >> Read more

The Mets moved into a first-place tie in the NL East as they beat the Phillies 5-1 on Monday night at Citi Field. > Box score

Five things to know about Monday's game

1) Steven Matz put last week's nightmarish start against the Phillies behind him, tossing six innings of one-run ball while allowing three hits, walking two and striking out six, as he lowered his ERA to 4.03. Matz retired the first six batters he faced and worked around a second-and-third, one-out jam in the third inning. He held the Phillies scoreless until Rhys Hoskins hit a solo homer in the top of the fourth inning. Included in Matz' night were two strikeouts of Bryce Harper, who was ejected in the top of the fourth for arguing balls and strikes from the dugout before bounding onto the field and losing his mind (more on that below). 

A Mets player was hit on the hand for the third straight game.

This time, it was Jeff McNeil who was hit on the hand by a Jose Alvarez fastball in the seventh inning of Monday's 5-1 win over the Phillies.

Bryce Harper was ejected from Monday's Mets-Phillies game in the fourth inning from the dugout for arguing balls and strikes.

Whether he's with the Mets or a different team, one thing has been consistent with Matt Harvey: success against the Yankees.

The former Mets ace Harvey threw six innings of two-run ball in Monday's start, retiring the last seven batters he faced.

Harvey allowed a solo home run to Luke Voit in the first inning and another run to score on a Gleyber Torres foul out in the third, but allowed just three hits and two walks to lower his ERA to 8.03.

Pete Alonso hit an RBI double in the third inning that gave the Mets a 1-0 lead.

Later in the game, Jeff McNeil hit his first homer of the season, a solo shot off Jake Arrieta that gave New York a 3-1 lead.

The Mets' 5.57 team ERA is the third-worst in the majors, better than only the Orioles and Red Sox. But manager Mickey Callaway isn't ready to sound the alarm.

"It's not concerning," Callaway said at Citi Field before Monday night's game against the Phillies, noting that the sample size is far too small for the team to be worried.

Is Callaway right to not be alarmed? Maybe...

Mets ace Jacob deGrom wound up getting an MRI on his elbow after all -- with it happening Monday morning before he threw a 30-pitch bullpen session at Citi Field.

The MRI came back "clean," GM Brodie Van Wagenen said prior to Monday night's game against the Phillies at Citi Field, adding that they'll see how the rest of deGrom's throwing program goes this week before determining whether he will come off the IL and return to the rotation on Friday when first eligible. 

Roughly three hours before Van Wagenen spoke, deGrom tossed the aforementioned bullpen session under the watchful eye of pitching coach Dave Eiland, concluding the session with a fist bump before walking across the field to the dugout.

The Mets are activating Todd Frazier before Monday night's game against the Phillies at Citi Field, and his return will have an impact on Jeff McNeil -- but fans can breathe a sigh of relief about the kind of impact it will have.

"I envision him playing third -- playing it quite a bit and kind of going from there," Mets manager Mickey Callaway said Monday afternoon about Frazier. "It will be something that we'll have to be diligent about."

While Frazier is going to play third "quite a bit," Callaway said the player that will impact the most is J.D. Davis, who has been splitting time there with McNeil. As far as McNeil, most of his playing time will likely come in left field...

Two of the Mets' starting infielders are out of the lineup on Monday night -- for very different reasons.

After exiting Sunday's game early after getting hit in the hand by a pitch, Robinson Cano is feeling residual soreness, GM Brodie Van Wagenen said. While Cano isn't in the lineup, he could be able to enter the game later on.

X-rays came back negative for Cano after Sunday's game, and the fact that he could be available later on Monday night bodes well. 

The Mets officially activated third baseman Todd Frazier on Monday and placed reliever Justin Wilson on the injured list with elbow soreness.

Frazier, who will play third "quite a bit," according to manager Mickey Callaway, has been out since spring training due to an oblique injury.

He played 13 rehab games with High-A St. Lucie and Triple-A Syracuse, going 10-for-42 with one home run and nine RBIs. Frazier also played four games at shortstop.

The Mets look to avoid a three-game losing streak when they take on the Philadelphia Phillies in the first game of a three-game set on Monday at 7:10 p.m. at Citi Field on SNY.

Mets notes

Amed Rosario (sickness) and Robinson Cano (hand) are not in the lineup. ... Jeff McNeil has eight multi-hit games in his last 13 games, slashing .373/.439/.431 in that span. ... The Mets have the second-worst run differential (minus-19) in the National League, but have the sixth-best record. 

Andy Martino and Doug Williams talk about the Mets pitching dilemma: Do they seek bullpen help or starting pitching? With the woes of the middle rotation should the Mets be worried about more than just their fifth starter? 

Additionally, what's up with Amed Rosario and should fans be worried?

Click below to listen...

Noah Syndergaard is not happy with how he has pitched in 2019, during which he has been charged with giving up 19 runs in just five starts and 29 innings.

"To be quite honest, the entire beginning of this season, my performances have been unacceptable," he said later Sunday. "I have to be better. I will be better. There's no excuses for it."

In his start Sunday against the Cardinals, Syndergaard tossed five innings, allowed four earned runs, eight hits and two batters, both which were the first batter of the inning.

Mets legend Ed Kranepool received good news over the weekend. 

The 74-year-old announced at Citi Field on Monday that he has found a "perfect match" for a new kidney after a nearly two-year wait on the donor list. 

Kranepool, the first baseman on the 1969 World Series champion Mets, has been cleared by doctors for the procedure, which will take place May 7 at Stony Brook University Hospital. 

The market for Gio Gonzalez will be more robust than it was in the winter, with the Milwaukee Brewers now interested in bringing the lefty back, according to major league sources.

The Mets, who were only minimally interested in Gonzalez during the offseason, are more intrigued now. Gonzalez is seen internally as a more likely addition than free agent starter Dallas Keuchel.

The Mets sent a scout to watch Gonzalez's final start for the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate on Friday, but the game was rained out. Gonzalez exercised an opt-out clause in his contract the following day.

If it feels like the Mets just played the Phillies, that's because they indeed did, when the latter took two of three in Philadelphia last week. Tonight's contest begins another three-game set, this time at Citi Field.

Matz won't be able to do any worse than how he fared in the previous series -- so long as there's an out recorded -- as he failed to retire even one batter last Tuesday. Ultimately, eight runs (six earned) went to his name while his ERA soared from 1.65 to 4.96.

Every Monday, we'll be taking a look at how the Mets' top prospects (their MLB.com Mets Top 10 rankings are in parenthesis) are faring.

Andrés Giménez, SS, Double-A Binghamton (No. 2) -- ETA 2020

Pete Alonso remains listed No. 1 on MLB.com's list of top Mets prospects, but he sure seems well entrenched in the majors given his outstanding start to the season. So Giménez tops the Mets' farm system, and it was a good week for the shortstop in Double-A Binghamton.

The 20-year-old went 9-for-25 in six games, recording one homer, three doubles, three RBI, three walks and two stolen bases along with six strikeouts. He takes a five-game hitting streak into Monday's game at Akron, and he had three hits in two of those games. He did commit an error in his last game, his second of the season.

The standout performance came on Thursday, when he went 3-for-4 with a homer and two doubles. The homer was a blast to right field which left the stadium and went "across the street," according to the MiLB video description.

As Jason Vargas struggles, the Mets have remained in touch with free agent starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel. Here's the latest...

April 22, 12:18 PM:

Although things may change, SNY's Andy Martino is "not hearing a lot of enthusiasm right now" that the Mets will be the ones to sign Keuchel.

The Mets (11-10, second place in the NL East, 1 game behind Phillies) open a 10-game homestand, starting with three games against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday at 7:10 p.m. 

Here's what went down on Sunday in case you missed it...

Noah Syndergaard struggled on the mound and more takeaways from the Mets' 6-4 loss to the Cardinals. >> Read More

Mets RHP Noah Syndergaard isn't pitching like the dominant pitcher he has shown capable of being. And he knows he needs to be better.

"To be quite honest, the entire beginning of this season, my performances have been unacceptable," Syndergaard told reporters after Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Cardinals. "I have to be better. I will be better. There's no excuses for it."

Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and Cardinals RHP Dakota Hudson go way back to the Cape Cod League and college, when they'd face each other as SEC foes, Alonso with the University of Florida and Hudson with Mississippi State.

So even though Alonso could have had Sunday off after taking a pitch to the hand on Saturday, he lobbied manager Mickey Callaway to get a chance to face Hudson.

And Alonso, who went 0-for-4 against Hudson in college, got revenge.

Noah Syndergaard struggled on the mound as the Mets lost for the fourth time in the last five games with a 6-4 loss on Sunday at Busch Stadium. >> Box score

Six things to know about Sunday's game

1) Syndergaard (1-2, 5.90 ERA) allowed six runs (four earned) and eight hits in five innings. In five starts this season, he has allowed at least four runs four times.

2) Pete Alonso, Syndergaard, Robinson Cano and Michael Conforto each hit solo homers, however the Mets wet 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base.

X-rays came back negative on Mets second baseman Robinson Cano's right hand.

Cano left Sunday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals after taking a 93.9 mph Andrew Miller fastball to the right hand in the seventh inning.

Cano went down in pain, however umpires ruled it was a foul ball, a call that manager Mickey Callaway argued, which led to his ejection.

Pete Alonso could have had the day off Sunday. Instead, he wanted to face Cardinals starter Dakota Hudson and called manager Mickey Callaway Saturday night, pleading his case to be in the lineup.

Callaway desired to exercise caution toward his rookie first baseman, who exited Saturday's 10-2 loss in St. Louis after being plunked on the hand with a pitch. X-Rays confirmed that he was OK, and Callaway heeded Alonso's request. 

The decision proved wise. Alonso blasted off to center field on an 0-1 offering from Hudson during his first at-bat of the afternoon. The ball traveled an estimated 444 feet and left the bat at 114.7 mph. He now has eight home runs on the season. 

The Mets have reshaped their roster over the last year and change, saying goodbye to some familiar faces (some beloved, some not) in the process. Every week, we'll take a look at how some of those former Mets are performing with their new teams...

Wilmer Flores, Diamondbacks

Flores is hitting .236 in 17 games. So far, he has no homers and only one RBI with four doubles with his new team. 

The Mets (11-9) look for a series win over the Cardinals (11-9) in the rubber match of the three-game set at Busch Stadium on Sunday at 2:15 p.m. 

Mets Notes

A win Sunday would give the Mets their third series win of the season. Additionally, a win would give the Mets their 10th road win of the season, which would tie the Mariners for the league lead. ... Pete Alonso is one of two New York rookies to bash seven homers through his first 20 games. Aaron Judge did it for the Yankees in 2017. ... Brandon Nimmo has reached base safely in each of his last 10 games, batting .355 (11-31) with 10 runs, three doubles, three home runs, seven RBI, seven walks and a .487 on-base percentage. ... Jeff McNeil's 100 career hits are the most all-time through 82 games by a Met.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

As Jeff McNeil is already making it clear that last year was no fluke, that he's going to hit in the big leagues, and probably for a long time, he's become a favorite topic of conversation among scouts.

Part of it is his throwback approach, choking up on a knob-less bat, making contact to all fields, which appeals to the purist nature of scouts who for the most part have disdain for the home run-or-strike out style that is so prevalent in today's game.

The Mets (11-9, second place in the NL East, 1. game behind Phillies) play the St. Louis Cardinals in the final game of a three-game set on Sunday at 2:15 p.m. 

Here's what went down on Saturday in case you missed it...

Jeff McNeil made team history at the dish. >> Read More

There wasn't much positive that came out of the Mets' loss in St. Louis on Saturday afternoon, but Jeff McNeil did make franchise history. 

With an infield single in the top of the seventh inning, McNeil became the fastest Met to reach 100 career hits. 

CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE HIT

Following the Mets' 10-2 loss to the Cardinals on Saturday, the Mets called up LHP Daniel Zamora from Triple-A Syracuse and sent down the day's starter, RHP Chris Flexen.

Zamora will work as extra bullpen help for New York. The lefty has appeared in five games with the Syracuse Mets this season, pitching to the tune of a 1.80 ERA over five innings. 

The 26-year-old had a very brief stint with the Mets in 2018, where he owned a 3.00 ERA over nine innings of work.

On Saturday, Pete Alonso took a pitch in the hand, but luckily it doesn't look to be anything concerning for the Mets. 

Manager Mickey Callaway told SNY's Steve Gelbs after the loss to the Cardinals that Alonso was headed for X-Rays following the injury.

"He's getting X-Rays as we speak," he said. "Not overly concerned. He seems like he's doing OK."

The Mets couldn't get things going at the plate in St. Louis on Saturday, as the Cardinals handed them a 10-2 loss. >> Box score

Five things to know about Saturday's game...

1) Chris Flexen got the spot start for the Mets in place of Jacob degrom, who was placed on the IL with a sore elbow. He didn't fare well against the Cards, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits over 4.1 innings. While he didn't record a strikeout, he allowed four walks in his outing as well. 

As the Mets' bullpen struggles, they have remained in touch with free agent reliever Craig Kimbrel. Here's the latest...

April 20, 4:02 PM:

The Mets still remain among teams interested in signing Kimbrel. But, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the team is only willing to sign Kimbrel if he was open to pitch in any role. This is obviously due to Edwin Diaz solidified in the closer role for now. 

The Mets appear to have some reason for optimism surrounding Jacob deGrom's elbow. 

After placing the right-hander on the 10-day injured list on Friday and scheduling an MRI in New York for Monday, Mets manager Mickey Callaway told reporters before Saturday's game against the Cardinals that deGrom may not have an MRI at all, although he will still be evaluated by doctors. 

DeGrom even long-tossed from 120 feet on Saturday and said afterward that everything "felt completely normal."

The Mets (11-8) look to build off Friday's win as they face the Cardinals (10-9) at Busch Stadium on Saturday at 2:15 p.m. 

Mets Notes

Chris Flexen makes the spot start in place of the injured Jacob deGrom. ... Jeff McNeil's .391 batting average is tied for the second-highest in the majors this season. His 99 career hits are also the most all-time by a Mets player through his first 81 games. ... Michael Conforto has reached base safely in 12 straight games since April 6. ... Brandon Nimmo is back in the leadoff spot after missing some time with a stiff neck. He has reached base safely in his last nine games