Megill returns, Scherzer is ahead of schedule, and a pitcher not getting nearly enough credit
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Megill returns, Scherzer is ahead of schedule, and a pitcher not getting nearly enough credit
Tylor Megill comes off the IL to make his first start in a month
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾
Tylor Megill will come off the injured list to start the Mets’ series opener against the Angels in Anaheim tonight
The Angels have pushed back Noah Syndergaard from his regularly scheduled start this weekend in an effort to give him extra rest
Max Scherzer (oblique strain) is throwing bullpen sessions and appears ahead of schedule in his recovery from an oblique injury (SI)
New York announced their weekend starters will be Megill, Carlos Carrasco and Taijuan Walker—they will use the off-day and Megill’s return to skip both David Peterson and Trevor Williams
Who’s Hot 🔥
Tomás Nido is hitting .438/.500/.500 in June
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (38-21) at Angels (27-31)
Where: Angel Stadium — Anaheim, CA
Starters: RHP Tylor Megill (4-2, 4.41 ERA) vs LHP TBD ( )
When: 9:38 PM EDT
Where to Watch: Apple TV+
Trevor Williams has been arguably the Mets’ biggest unsung hero 📝
Despite the sour taste from the last two nights during which Mets pitching has been blasted and the Mets offense has been silenced, almost all of the first two months of the 2022 season have been a joyride for Mets fans.
Followers of the Mets will tell you that Pete Alonso is a legitimate NL MVP candidate, Francisco Lindor could be the Comeback Player of the Year, and how Jeff McNeil is BACK. They’ll tell you Buck Showalter has changed the culture in Queens, Carlos Carrasco is back to being the guy he was in Cleveland, and that Edwin Díaz, his wicked slider and 100+mph fastball have been un-hittable at the end of games.
But I’d be willing to bet it would take a good long while for most Mets fans to bring up Trevor Williams as an important part of New York’s early season success.
I’m here to tell you that shouldn’t be the case.
Williams’ primary role is the most underappreciated one in a baseball—long reliever and swing man. But it’s also one of the most important ones on a good team. Williams has three separate relief appearances of 3.2 innings in 2022. All three came in losses for New York, but his ability to eat up innings and save the rest of the bullpen helped the Mets win the next day all three times.
With injuries sidelining both Megill and Max Scherzer, the Mets were forced to slide Williams into the rotation, and he’s really given the club a boost in that role. In his last two starts, the righty has worked 10 innings and allowed only two runs on 10 hits and two walks.
While he was a member of New York’s starting five, the bullpen noticeably lacked someone of his ilk—a pitcher capable of getting double digit+ outs in the middle of lopsided games. With Megill returning tonight and the Mets having two off days in a span of five days, New York is reworking its rotation and it’s clear Williams is going to slide back into his customary relief role.
But that’s not an indictment of Williams’ performance whatsoever. Of course he’d probably prefer to remain in the starting five but his value to the team is highest as the first man up in the bullpen if that becomes necessary early in games.
Down on the Farm 🌾
Francisco Alvarez (No.1 Prospect- Double-A) Launched his 12th home run of the season
Brett Baty (No.2 Proespect- Double-A) 2-3 with 2 BB and 2 R
Box Scores: Triple-A | Double-A | Single-A | Low-A
Around the League 🚩
Gerrit Cole allowed homers to the first three batters he faced against Minnesota
Stephen Strasburg made his first start for Washington since 6/1/21 but his Nationals fell to Miami 7-4
The Braves won their 8th game in a row, topping Pittsburgh 3-1
Tony La Russa controversially walked Trea Turner intentionally with a 1-2 count just to have Max Muncy blast a three run homer
Jose Ramirez homered to take over the MLB RBI lead, breaking a tie with the Mets’ Pete Alonso