Tylor Megill has cracked the New York Mets rotation to start the 2024 regular season, manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old right-hander will likely assume the No. 3 role between Jose Quintana, Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, and Adrian Houser. An opening was made available after staff ace Kodai Senga suffered a shoulder strain early on in the spring that landed him on the injured list. He will remain there for the early portions of the season.
In a corresponding move, the Mets optioned right-hander Jose Butto to minor-league camp.
Armed with a new pitched he nicknamed the “American Spork,” Megill put forth a strong showing in spring, going 1-2 with a 3.45 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts in 15.1 innings of work.
Butto was also strong, allowing just one run across 10 exhibition innings this spring, but Megill’s stuff looked livelier to Mendoza, and his track record at the major-league level is more extensive.
“Credit to him, the way he approached the offseason and how he prepared,” Mendoza said of Megill (h/t SNY). “He was working on new pitches and all of that, but he came prepared, just like Butto did. Then the outings he had, the way he threw the baseball, the way he was bouncing back, and he’s a guy who’s done it. He’s got a little bit more experience than Butto, and we decided to go that route.”
Megill has been inconsistent for large portions of his MLB career, which has spanned across three seasons — he owns a 4.72 ERA. Across his final six starts of 2023, though, he posted a 2.55 ERA.
According to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, Megill could slot into the No. 3 role to start the season, meaning he would get the Mets’ opening series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, March 31. Such a decision is predicated on limiting the Brewers’ looks at southpaw pitchers. Milwaukee does not do well against right-handers (.695 OPS vs. righties last year) and lefty Jose Quintana is already getting the ball for Opening Day.
