RHP Zack Wheeler returns to New York Mets' starting rotation

Right-hander Zack Wheeler earned a spot in the starting rotation for the New York Mets despite a rough spring and two-year recovery from Tommy John surgery.

Wheeler had a 5.11 ERA in spring training but was named the No. 4 starter in the rotation by manager Terry Collins.

Collins and general manager Sandy Alderson said Wheeler will be on an innings limit of roughly 125.

Wheeler slots into a rotation that includes Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey and fifth starter Robert Gsellman.

Steven Matz is headed to the disabled list with left elbow soreness. and was prescribed three weeks of rest after a plasma injection this week.

Matz, 25, underwent Tommy John surgery earlier in his career, but he was reassured by doctors earlier in the week that he has no ligament damage in the elbow.

Matz said he felt tenderness before his last outing on March 22 after giving up five runs and eight hits in four innings against the Miami Marlins. He is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA in four starts this spring.

In 22 starts last year, Matz was 9-8 with a 3.40 ERA over 132 1/3 innings before being shut down in September.

Collins announced his starting rotation for the first three games of the season. Syndergaard will start the opener and be following by deGrom and Harvey.

Syndergaard went 14-9 with a 2.60 ERA in 31 appearances (30 starts) last season. The flame-throwing 24-year-old struck out 218 batters in 183 2/3 innings. The 6-foot-6 Syndergaard was 9-7 with a 3.24 ERA in his rookie season in 2015.

DeGrom, the 2014 NL Rookie of the Year, had his 2016 season curtailed due to elbow surgery to remove scar tissue in his right elbow. He posted a 7-8 mark with a 3.04 ERA in 24 appearances after winning 14 games the previous year.

Harvey also is making his way back from surgery. He went 4-10 with a 4.86 ERA in 17 starts last year before season-ending surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome in his right shoulder.

An All-Star in 2013, Harvey missed the 2014 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He is 29-28 with a 2.94 ERA in 82 starts over four seasons.