Alonso's clutch relay throw, Megill's new injury and pondering the catching situation

Tylor Megill leaves with a shoulder injury but the Mets offense picks him up. Plus, should Tomás Nido stay as the starting catcher when James McCann returns?

Justin Mears

Jun 17, 2022

(Photo courtesy of Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)

What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾

The Mets edged the Brewers on 5-4 on Thursday to win the series with Milwaukee (Box)
OF Mark Canha delivered the biggest hit of the game — a game tying, two-run homer in the 5th
RHP Tylor Megill left the game in the 4th with right shoulder discomfort and will undergo an MRI today
3B Eduardo Escobar was unavailable Thursday due to what is being described as a “non-workplace event”
Nick Plummer, Pete Alonso, and Tomás Nido teamed up for a perfect relay and tag at home to prevent the Brewers from tying the game in the 9th
The Mets are now 9-3 in rubber games, 31-4 games they score 5 or more runs, have 16 comeback wins, 8 wins in their final at-bat, and are 15-3-2 in series this season
New York expanded their lead over the Braves (who had the night off) for just the second time since May 30th
RHP Max Scherzer (left oblique strain) threw three innings in a simulated game yesterday and is slated to begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday
C James McCann (fractured left hand) began his own rehab assignment with Binghamton last night, catching and going 0-4 with three strikeouts at the plate
RHP Jacob deGrom (stress reaction in right scapula) is scheduled to pitch an up-and-down bullpen session today
The Mets are expected to call-up RHP Tommy Hunter to the major leagues soon

Who’s Hot 🔥

Jeff McNeil is hitting .500 with a homer and four RBI in his last four games
Edwin Díaz has not allowed a run in his last seven outings and has struck out 16 hitters in 7.2 innings during that timeframe
After his 2-for-4 on Thursday, Luis Guillorme is now hitting .352/.424/.409 with a home run, two doubles, five RBI, a stolen base and 14 runs scored with an .833 OPS over his last 29 games

Today’s Game 🗓

Match-up: Mets (42-23) vs Marlins (28-33)

Where: Citi Field — Flushing, NY

Starters: RHP Carlos Carrasco (7-2, 3.93 ERA) vs TBD

When: 7:10 PM EST

Where to Watch: SNY

Tomás Nido should remain the Mets starting catcher when James McCann returns 📝

The Mets catching position has obviously not been a position of strength for their offense in 2022, but I personally believe some of that has been slightly overblown. Entering the season with the duo of James McCann and Tomás Nido, New York did not have overly high expectations on that side of the ball. Both are known more as defensive backstops, and the thought was the team had assembled more than enough offense to let them handle the pitching staff and bat 9th every night. And for the most part, all of that has worked out that way.

Prior to breaking his hamate bone, McCann was slashing an ugly .196/.266/.286 with only three extra-base hits in 56 at-bats, but he’d also gunned down four of twelve potential base-stealers and developed chemistry with all of the pitchers on his staff. He played an instrumental part in the Amazins’ combined no-hitter on April 29th, and the Mets were generally able to live with his lack of offense.

In his absence, though, Nido has played well and with McCann beginning a rehab assignment last night it is worth asking the question. Should he continue starting most nights when the veteran comes back?

Make no mistake, Nido is still a below average offensive player — I’m not trying to tell you he’s not. But in 10 games in June he’s hitting .294/.333/.324 and most impressively on the season he’s hitting an absurd .375 with runners in scoring position. Much like with McCann, power is not a part of Nido’s game. In 113 at-bats he’s doubled just three times and has not hit a home run. But he’s become very adept at going up the middle and using the opposite field in RBI situations and has come up with several big hits for the Mets this year — including last night.

Patrick Mazeika came up to replace McCann on the active roster at the time of his injury, and while he provided some initial heroics he’s just four-for-his-last-30 (.133) and will assuredly be sent down when McCann is ready.

There’s also a fairly good chance that none of the three catchers mentioned in this piece are behind the plate in the Mets most important games later this fall. A deadline trade for an upgrade like Willson Contreras is a possibility. And while it was not their original thought, top prospect Francisco Álvarez seems to homer everyday in Double-A and he could be an option as a midseason call-up, according to Jon Heyman.

But the Mets also have a veteran staff who likes throwing to the guys they have. Max Scherzer, in particular, developed a rapport with Nido during the lockout and for a while he was his personal catcher and Chris Bassitt admitted recently how a major change at catcher can take time to click with. I’m never in favor of not pursuing upgrades, but when it comes to the catching position, not everything is as black and white. If and when the Mets get Scherzer and Jacob deGrom back, the two of them — along with Bassitt, Carlos Carrasco and Taijuan Walker — will determine how far this team can go. If rocking the boat by changing their battery mates negatively affects that quintet, is it really worth it?

My answer to that would be no. Which is why, at least in the short term, I’d advocate for letting Nido assume the number one role, and giving him some leash with it.

Down on the Farm 🌾

Francisco Álvarez (C, No. 1 prospect, Double-A): 1-for-3, HR (14), BB
Mark Vientos (3B/OF, No. 5 prospect, Triple-A): 1-for-4, RBI
Carlos Cortes (2B/OF, No. 15 prospect, Double-A): 2-for-2, HR (3), 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 runs scored

Box Scores: Triple-A | Double-A | Single-A | Low-A

Around the League 🚩

The Phillies hammered Washington 10-1 behind two homers from Kyle Schwarber
Yankees 1B Anthony Rizzo hit a walk-off home run as New York edged Tampa Bay 2-1 in the Bronx
Angels RHP/DH Shohei Ohtani shut out Seattle over six innings and Mike Trout homered to help Anaheim to a much needed win
With their 6-4 win at Wrigley, the Padres leapfrogged the Dodgers for sole possession of first place in the NL West
The Orioles roughed up Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman — knocking him out in the 3rd inning of their 10-2 victory