Mets could skip struggling Tylor Megill's turn in rotation
PITTSBURGH — The Mets won’t need a fifth starter in the next week, leaving team officials to consider squeezing out Tylor Megill, at least temporarily.
Before the Mets lost 2-1 to the Pirates on Sunday, manager Buck Showalter acknowledged the two off days this week would allow him to adjust his rotation if needed and potentially add a reliever.
Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are scheduled to start in the Subway Series games Tuesday and Wednesday, and with an off day following, Showalter has the option of skipping the struggling Megill and then aligning Kodai Senga, Carlos Carrasco, Scherzer and Verlander, all of whom would be pitching on extra rest anyway.
The Mets wouldn’t need a fifth starter until facing the Astros on June 20.
“There’s some ways we can wiggle there if we need to, especially in the bullpen if we wanted to add an arm,” Showalter said.
The Mets could skip Tylor Megill’s next turn in the rotation. AP
Megill has struggled in three of his last four starts and owns a 5.14 ERA this season.
If the Mets were to option him to Triple-A Syracuse he would have to remain there for two weeks before returning (unless there was an injury), so it’s possible the team could give Joey Lucchesi or David Peterson an opportunity.
The Mets would also have the option of keeping Megill in the bullpen and reinserting him into the rotation when he’s needed again.
Mets starter Tylor Megill pitches against the Pirates on June 9, 2023. Getty Images
The lefty Lucchesi has pitched to a 2.72 ERA in seven starts for Syracuse, but both he and Peterson have largely struggled in their appearances for the Mets this season. Peterson has pitched to a 4.68 ERA in his five starts for Syracuse.
The Mets completed the weekend with a strong start from Senga, who helped snap the team’s seven-game losing streak by limiting the Pirates to one run over seven innings on Saturday.
Carrasco followed with a passable, albeit short, performance in which he allowed two earned runs over 4 ²/₃ innings in Sunday’s loss.
Verlander whose pattern of following a good start with a bad one has been the Mets’ biggest disappointment in the rotation this season.
Last year’s American League Cy Young award winner will take a 4.85 ERA into his Wednesday start against the Yankees.
Source: New York Post
