Injuries are once again providing starting pitcher Tylor Megill with a clear path to make the New York Mets’ Opening Day roster.
And once again, he is putting together a strong showing in the spring.
The 29-year-old right-hander posted four scoreless innings against the Houston Astros on Tuesday, allowing just two hits with five strikeouts in a walk. He has allowed one run and punched out seven across 6.2 frames during the exhibition slate.
“He pounded the zone,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said as he lauded Megill for being aggressive and going after hitters, which is something the hurler has struggled to do consistently. “He got a head and stayed on the attack, which was really good to see…
“That’s what we want from him. This is a guy that’s been in the league. He’s been up-and-down, but he has big-league stuff. His stuff should play at this level… He’s taking that next step, which is encouraging.”
Early-season success is nothing new for Megill, though. It’s the summer which proves troublesome.
In his first three starts of 2024, he posted a 1.69 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 16.2 innings. In his next nine appearances (eight starts), it swelled to 6.25.
He had a 3.00 ERA in his first four starts of the 2023 season, only to go 4-6 with a 6.30 ERA in his next 15 starts.
Throughout Megill’s first four years in the majors, he has a 2.84 ERA with a 1.175 WHIP in March and April starts. In all other months, he has a 4.91 ERA with a 1.509 WHIP.
With both Frankie Montas (lat) and Sean Manaea (oblique) out, and the Mets using a six-man rotation this season to preserve Kodai Senga, who is coming back from an injury-riddled 2024, any semblance of consistency will land Megill a regular spot in the rotation.
Easier said than done, of course.
“That’s always been my biggest downfall,” Megill admitted. “Just being able to string together continual good starts after good starts. I’ll have stints of good starts, then I’ll go in go in ruts wherfe I have three or four bad starts, then come back with good starts. As long as I’m consistent, I think the outcome is going to be very good.”
