Mets' Wheeler sidelined with 'tender' elbow, blister

New York Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler was scratched from Saturday's start against the Washington Nationals because of elbow tenderness and a blister under his fingernail. 

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson described the elbow issue as tendinitis, which he says Wheeler dealt with and received treatment for last year. The 24-year-old threw a career-high 185 2/3 innings with a team-leading 187 strikeouts in 2014.

''He had it looked at in the offseason,'' Alderson said of Wheeler's elbow. ''This is something he experienced a little bit in the course of last season, as well. It was managed. That's what we expect this season. We backed him off a couple days for that reason. I don't expect this is going to be serious, the tendinitis."

Alderson indicated the blister was more of an impediment than Wheeler's tender elbow, though that's unlikely to alleviate worst-case fears in Queens. Fellow youngster and All-Star right-hander Matt Harvey missed the entire 2014 season after tearing the UCL in his throwing elbow.

Wheeler, who was battered for six runs over 1 2/3 innings by the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, is not expected to undergo an MRI, Alderson said.

- With files from The Associated Press