ATLANTA -- Now that hes about to make his highly anticipated debut with the New York Mets, Zack Wheeler will rely on some advice he got from a minor league coach. Kyle Kuzma Lakers Jersey . Dont look up. "I know its going to be a big moment in my life," Wheeler said Monday, the day before he takes the mound against the first-place Atlanta Braves. "Theres probably going to be some nerves." The 23-year-old right-hander is one of baseballs top pitching prospects and a reason for hope in what is turning out to be another dismal season for the Mets. Heightening the anticipation, hell be making his first start in the big leagues not far from where he grew up in the northwest Atlanta suburbs, meaning plenty of family and friends will be in the stands at Turner Field. Wheeler said hell try to follow a tip he got a couple of years ago from his pitching coach in Class A, former big leaguer Steve Kline, who said all the sights and sounds of a big league park can be a bit overwhelming the first time out. "He said, Whatever you do, dont look up," Wheeler said. "I think he threw up off the back of the mound his first game. Ill always remember that advice." The youngster will be joining a rotation that already includes 24-year-old Matt Harvey, who is having a brilliant year (5-1, 2.04 ERA, 102 strikeouts in 97 innings) in his first full major league season. And, in an interesting twist, Harvey will pitch the opener of a day-night doubleheader before Wheeler goes in the second game. For the Mets, its a chance to show their frustrated fans what they hope will be the centerpieces of a brighter future. "I dont think Im a saviour at all," Wheeler said. "Weve got some great arms here, some great players. We might not be doing too well right now, but I know the talent of these guys. Hopefully well turn it around soon. Im just trying to come up here and help the team any way I can." Wheeler arrived in Atlanta on Sunday and got a chance to hang out with family and three of his friends at the suburban Atlanta home he shares with one of his brothers. "It was a good night, just talking and hanging out and telling some stories," Wheeler said. "We had a good time." Now, its time to get down to business. His first start comes against a power-laden Braves team that holds the biggest lead of any division leader, a team he remembers following as a kid when they had pitchers such as Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz -- though Wheeler downplayed his allegiance to the team hell be facing. "I wasnt a huge baseball fan," Wheeler said. "I liked watching basketball a little bit better. But how could I not watch the Braves growing up? My pop was always watching them. They were always good. But Im not a huge Braves fan like everyone thinks I am." Wheeler was the sixth overall draft pick by the San Francisco Giants in 2009 after being selected as Georgias top prep player his last two years at East Paulding High School. He was dealt to the Mets in 2011 for outfielder Carlos Beltran and started this season at Triple-A Las Vegas, where he got off to a slow start but pitched much better in recent weeks. He was 4-2 with a 3.93 ERA for the Pacific Coast League team. The hard-throwing Wheeler struck out 73 in 68 2-3 innings, but 27 walks were a bit of a concern. Hell be looking to get more pitches over the plate in the big leagues. "I walked a lot of guys in the minors," Wheeler said. "Thats always been a problem with me. I want to come after hitters and throw strikes." New York manager Terry Collins said he told Wheeler the same thing he told Harvey before his big league debut. "Hes only one guy and hes going to go out there every fifth day," Collins said. "I told him if he pounds that strike zone, hell help." Wheeler is just the latest in a long list of players to emerge from the baseball-rich Atlanta suburbs, a group that includes a couple of Braves regulars, outfielder Jason Heyward and catcher Brian McCann. Wheeler, in fact, has worked out with Heyward during the off-season. Theyll be facing each other Tuesday. "Im happy for him," Heyward said. "Itll be fun." Wheeler said it helped to grow up playing in an area that has produced so many big leaguers, and his development was pushed along even more by his time in Las Vegas, where the altitude and baked-out desert infield created conditions that definitely favoured the hitters. "It makes you battle a little bit more," he said. "It puts a little more pressure on you." Hell try not to put too much pressure on himself as a rookie, even though Harvey has already set a high standard. "Ill just go out there and do the best I can," Wheeler said. "People can take it how they want. Hopefully Ill do well and be up here with him for a while." Shaquille ONeal Jersey . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Shaquille ONeal Lakers Jersey . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. http://www.lakersbasketballshop.com/Magic-Johnson-Jersey/ .S District Court against Major League Baseball, the Office of the Commissioner and his own union, the MLBPA. ST. LOUIS -- Coach Ken Hitchcock hopes the combination of a lopsided loss, a day off and a good practice on Monday will result in a better performance when the St. Louis Blues host the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.Theres building times and this is it, Hitchcock told NHL.com. Weve got a real opportunity right now.The Blues have lost three games in a row and five of their last seven, including a 3-1 defeat at Nashville and an embarrassing 8-4 loss at Columbus on Saturday night, a game in which they trailed 7-1 at one point.Three of those recent losses came in games in which the Blues allowed five or more goals.Theres spots in games where were doing everything we want to do, then all of the sudden, things turn the other way and its going negative, said defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. Its got to come from within this room. Nobodys going to help us. Everythings getting magnified. Were not being as assertive as we usually are. You identify a check, you know thats youre guy and youre going to play him hard. If someone makes a mistake, youre there to help your teammate out right away.Were getting spread out in our end, were not communicating the way we need to communicate, and thats resulting in glaring opportunities, whereas in the past, if those were there, it didnt seem like they were obvious opportunities. I think when we get more assertive and play teams harder, be tougher to play against, its going to work in a positive direction.Jake Allen, who was pulled in the second period against the Blue Jackets after allowing four goals, will get the start in net against Buuffalo. Derek Fisher Lakers Jersey. s a team, the Sabres can relate to what the Blues are going through. They are winless in their last four games, including both a shootout and an overtime loss. They have scored a combined four goals in those games.Just like the Blues, the Sabres have had a problem staying out of the penalty box. They have been called for five or more penalties in four of their last five games. The Blues have been called for the most minor penalties in the league (76) while Buffalo ranks 11th with 58 minor penalties.Weve got to stay out of the box, Sabres right winger Kyle Okposo told NHL.com. Thats something that needs to be addressed and needs to be executed. There are some penalties that you have to take and other ones that are just undisciplined penalties. Weve got to stay away from the undisciplined ones.Center Ryan OReilly, who has missed two of the last three games, could play against the Blues, according to coach Dan Bylsma. Buffalo still is expected to recall at least one forward and a defenseman from the minor leagues before Tuesday nights game.The Sabres have fallen to last in the NHL with an average of 1.93 goals per game.Maybe the biggest surprise is we havent got to the power play as much as we need to to get opportunities to score, Bylsma told the Buffalo News. We should be playing the way where teams have to take penalties against us. Given the lineup we have, we need to manufacture goals in a hard and difficult way. ' ' '