New York Mets

Mets pitching prospect Zack Wheeler will make 2-3 starts in the minors before making his big-league debut, a team official told The New York Post Thursday.

Wheeler allowed three earned runs on five hits and two walks over five innings in his first start Wednesday since being skipped in the rotation with soreness in the AC joint in his right shoulder. He clocked in at 100 mph, but was mostly in the 95-97 mph range in his last start.

Wheeler is 3-1 with a 3.91 ERA in nine starts with Triple-A Las Vegas. Barring any setbacks, he could make his debut at some point between June 6-11.

The Mets have no immediate plans to send first baseman Ike Davis down to Triple-A, but a source told the New York Daily News that a decision could be made after the weekend series against the Braves, beginning Friday. General manager Sandy Alderson is not in town until Monday, which could be a part of the reason a decision has not been made, according to the report. 

Davis is batting just .147 with a .482 on-base plus slugging percentage through the season's first 42 games, and rumbles about a possible demotion are growing louder by the day. He is 1 for his last 38 to drop him to last among qualified hitters in batting average. 

Mets catching prospect Kevin Plawecki got off to a slow start last season, after being selected in the supplemental first round of the draft. His second professional season is going much better so far, as he is batting .364 for Class A Savannah.

Plawecki entered the season as the Mets' 17th-ranked prospect according to MLB.com, but the organization felt confident that his upside was much higher than what he showed in 2012, when he hit just .250 in 61 games.

"Going into this year, [we were] optimistic about what we might get from him," vice president of amateur scouting and player development Paul DePodesta told MLB.com Thursday. "Wouldn't have predicted he'd do what he's done. But there was reason for optimism."

Plawecki has 24 extra-base hits in 42 games, and has walked 16 times to 20 strikeouts, and he is already knocking on the door of a call up. It just isn't clear when that will be.

"We think he's ready to move both offensively and defensively," DePodesta said. "When the opportunity presents itself, we will move."

Mets pitching prospect Zack Wheeler admitted Thursday that he was not at his best in his return from shoulder inflammation Wednesday. Wheeler, who admitted to being rusty, had his turn skipped in the rotation due his shoulder issue.

"Honestly, nothing was working real well for me today," he said to the New York Post. "Taking 10 days off and missing a start this late in the season and coming back as sharp as you were is tough."

Wheeler hit 100 mph on the radar gun, but reportedly saw his velocity dip as the start went on. He allowed two home runs among his five hits, surrendering three runs in five innings of work.

Wheeler expects to be fine for his next turn in the rotation. 

Mets pitching prospect Zack Wheeler was back on the mound Wednesday for Triple-A Las Vegas after being skipped in the rotation with inflammation in his right shoulder.

Wheeler pitched five innings against the Iowa Cubs, allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks. He hit a batter and struck out two, while being held to 67 pitches.