Warwick native Dan Wheeler, a stalwart in the Rays’ bullpen, hopes to close the door on the Red Sox in the American League Championship Series.

AP / Mike Carlson

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — If, at some time during the American League Championship Series Dan Wheeler finds himself on the pitcher’s mound trying to close out a win for the Tampa Bay Rays, he’ll be in his element.

“That’s what I do for a living,” he said plainly in the Rays’ clubhouse at Tropicana Field yesterday.

Wheeler is the former Pilgrim High star who’s crafted a major-league pitching career that’s reached its apex. In 2005, he threw in the World Series for the Houston Astros. After a trade last summer to his offseason home in Tampa, he’s carved out a vital role in one of baseball’s premier bullpens.

He saved Game One of Tampa’s ALDS win over the White Sox and if the Rays need someone to shut down Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis or Jason Bay over the next 10 days, he’s likely to get the ball.

“Dan has closed for us but the whole bullpen has shown amazing versatility. That’s a strong suit for us,” Tampa manager Joe Maddon said.

Versatility has been Wheeler’s strong suit for several seasons. He appeared in 25 games for the Rays last season but didn’t earn a save. He was the setup guy, the pitcher Maddon pointed at to grab a tough out or two in the seventh or eighth innings.

That was the same role Wheeler settled into this season. He’s accumulated 26 holds (second-best in the A.L.) but when veteran closer Troy Percival went down with a sore back in August, Wheeler stepped in and shined. He finished the season with a career-high 13 saves and held opposing hitters to a .183 average in 70 appearances.

“He’s the jack of all trades,” said Percival, a 13-year veteran with more than 350 career saves. “He’s a great set-up man, he’s come in and got some big outs in the ninth inning. He’s a stabilizing guy down there because he throws strikes. You know what you’re going to get with Dan. He’s not going to walk you out of innings and he knows what to throw at the right times. It’s good to have a guy like that. Seventy appearances every year, that’s very dependable.”

Wheeler is not the flashy type of reliever who talks a good game. He’s reserved, but confident. Now in his ninth major-league season, he’s an established presence who’s in the first year of a three-season deal that’ll pay him $10.5 million. That’s a long way from Pilgrim, Warwick Avenue and American Legion games with Shields Post.

“I grew up a Red Sox fan but I never once said I wanted to play for the Red Sox. I wanted to play major-league baseball,” he said.

After being drafted by the Rays in 1996 (34th round), he reached the majors in 1999. He was back for parts of the next two seasons but was released and pitched in Triple A for the Braves and Mets before he returned to the majors in New York for parts of 2003 and ’04.

In August 2004, the hard-throwing righty was traded to Houston, a city he grew to love. The Astros won the National League pennant in 2005 and he and his wife, Stephanie, made plenty of friends and had their first child, Gabe.

Then, in July 2007, Wheeler was traded to Tampa, which happens to be his wife’s hometown. It was also the home of one of baseball’s worst teams, but that all changed in what has been a magical summer of 2008.

“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “I remember getting traded over here at the trade deadline last year and we’re in last place. The first game was kind of dead and I’m coming from Houston where we had a couple nice runs. There was no life here.

“This year we came together as a group. It took a little while for [the fans] to think we weren’t going to falter, but by the All-Star break we started playing really good ball and they realized that there was a legitimate chance here. The energy here was great. The fans have been waiting for this moment for a long time so it’s huge for them.”

Wheeler lives about 40 minutes away from Tropicana Field in Belleair Beach. He and his wife welcomed a second son, Zachary, 10 months ago and are enjoying their young family. Gabe Wheeler, who’s now 4, is among the growing legions of Rays’ fans.

“Gabe does the deliveries for the pitchers and has the batting stances down,” said Dewayne Staats, Wheeler’s father-in-law and the team’s TV play-by-play voice. “He’s got his dad down, even the shake he does with his glove. It’s a blessing to have those two little guys around.”

Unlike most of his teammates, Wheeler appreciates playoff baseball. He’s tasted the World Series and didn’t like getting swept by the White Sox. Now he’s four wins away from returning and could be the man with the ball in his hand with the ALCS on the line.

“The last time I was there it went by too quick. Hopefully this time I can enjoy the moment as we go through it,” he said. “It’s not going to be an easy road. It’s going to be real difficult.”

kmcnamar@projo.com