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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. 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." 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The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. Cheap Nike Shox Nz . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill has avoided costly mistakes during his teams six-game winning streak.Tannehill likely will need to maintain that level of play Sunday against a stout Baltimore Ravens defense if Miami is to exit with a victory.Tannehill has made several key adjustments under first-year head coach Adam Gase, who has helped his quarterback develop better footwork in the pocket. Tannehill has responded with his best year as a pro. He has thrown for nine touchdowns and one interception with a passer rating of 104.7 over the past six games.The Ravens, however, pose the biggest challenge so far with the leagues second-ranked defense. Still, Tannehills confidence is riding high and he is poised to make some key plays in this tough road matchup.It is exciting to be where were at right now, Tannehill said. Obviously you want to be playing meaningful games in December to get yourself playing in January and February, and weve done that. Im not surprised because we just kind of stuck to the process. We believed in each other and just kept growing as a football team.Tannehill may have to make some more big plays, especially if the Dolphins cannot effectively run the ball. Baltimore has the leagues top rushing defense, allowing 74.9 yards per game.Last week, the San Francisco 49ers stacked the box to shut down Miamis running attack, and Tannehill responded with three touchdown passes. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has been impressed by Tannehills performance and is preparing for a versatile offense.Tannehill has done a great job all year, Harbaugh said. Obviously, he has not made a lot of mistakes since they have started winning -- more touchdown passes with fewer interceptions. They have run the ball. They have three really good receivers and a great running back. It is a good combination of players.The Dolphins have won each of their past five games by seven points or fewer. They could be faced with another closely contested matchup at M&T Bank Stadium.Baltimore is 32-15 at home during the month of December. Since 2008, the Ravens have allowed just 16.4 points per game at M&T Bank Stadium -- the NFLs best defensive mark.While the Dolphins lead the all-time series 6-5, the Ravens have won four of the past five regular-season meetings. Baltimore has also beaten Miami twice in the postseason in the wild-card round (2002 and 2009).Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs has been the dominant player with 9.5 sacks in seven games.Baltimores defense got a boost with the return of fellow linebacker Elvis Dumervil from a foot injury. Dumervil secured the Ravens 19-14 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals with a strip-sack on quartterback Andy Dalton with just over a minute to play.ddddddddddddRavens top cornerback Jimmy Smith also returned to practice this week after missing the past two games. This could help Baltimore contain the Dolphins talented pair of receivers Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker.I think any time you play a defense that has the players that they have and then the coaching staff that they have -- its a very good coaching staff to where those guys will be in great position, said Gase, who interviewed for the Ravens offensive coordinator position in 2015. Theyll obviously be dialed in to our scheme.The onus could be on Miami running back Jay Ajayi to relieve some of that pressure on the offense. Ajayi is ranked seventh in the NFL with 847 yards on 161 carries. However, he has been held to under 80 yards in the past three games.The Dolphins got some good news this week as injured offensive lineman Branden Albert (wrist) and Laremy Tunsil (shoulder) were able to return to practice.We still have a lot of room to grow, Ajayi said. Its comforting because if we can figure those little things out and hone in on those details now at this time and really get rolling, then December is going to be huge for us.The Ravens need more production from quarterback Joe Flacco and the rest of the offense. Flacco has thrown for 2,877 yards with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions in 11 games. He is expected to face some pressure this week from Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who has five sacks.Baltimore is averaging 19.8 points per game -- tied with Minnesota for 24th in the league. In the victory over the Bengals, the Ravens had to rely on four field goals from Justin Tucker -- three of those kicks were over 50 yards.We need to score more points as an offense, Harbaugh said. Thats the bottom line. We just have to continue to find a way to do that. I believe we can do it. I know we can do it. Making plays here and there, blocking a little bit better, seeing some reads, calling some plays, building a good game plan, those are all things that you try to do.It will also be the first time Ravens receiver Mike Wallace plays against the Dolphins since he left there in 2014 after two tumultuous seasons. Wallace said he has no bad feelings toward Miami, but he would like nothing more than to have a big game against them as a Raven.Im happy for those guys, Wallace said Wednesday about Miami. No ill feelings. But I feel like Ive been taken on this path for a reason. The way the (Ravens) organization is run is more my speed here. ' ' '