After putting together an impressive performance during Thursday's intersquad game, Michael Wacha is ready to get the season started.
Wacha helped Team White get a win over Team Blue after allowing no hits and striking out four in 6.1 innings on the mound. This surprising showing from the RHP should have Mets fans excited for Opening Day and for summer baseball to begin.
"[Thursday] night I could definitely feel it," Wacha said over Zoom on Friday afternoon. "Once those lights were turned on, it just felt like another regular season game. I had the adrenaline going a little bit going out there, It's good to be able to face hitters and get that competition going leading up into a season."
"As soon as that regular season starts in about a week, it's definitely another level that we'll be getting to...but it's the right progress for sure."
The Mets will face the Yankees in exhibition games on Saturday and Sunday for their first taste of real opposition since Spring Training.
"It's definitely an exciting time. Not just for New York, but I think for the whole country and the whole world, so it's a great time," Wacha said. "I know people have been putting in a lot of effort, a lot of work to get this season going and healthy and just moving in the right directions, so I am thoroughly excited about it."
Wacha said he made sure to take advantage of the extra three months off before the regular season begins to get as much work in as he can to get ready.
After Thursday's sim-game, Wacha said he felt "in command of all four" of his pitches.
"I didn't want to lose any of that, because I was feeling really good going into Spring Training," Wacha said. "...So i just kept building and working on what I've been doing mechanically-wise and pitch-wise."
"The arm has been feeling good, the body, not having to worry about any other injuries with the side or shoulder. Everything has been feeling good."
The Mets open the regular season in just a short week against the Braves on July 24 at Citi Field.