One mistake doomed Tylor Megill, who may have turned a corner for the Mets
The Mets were officially eliminated from playoff contention with their loss on Friday
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets fell to the Phillies 5-4 in the second game of their four game weekend series in Philadelphia (Box)
Tylor Megill started for the Mets and pitched well into the sixth inning, although he allowed a go-ahead, three-run home run to JT Realmuto in the sixth inning
The Mets did come back and tie the game late thanks to a solo home run from Brett Baty in the 9th, but were ultimately walked-off by the Phillies thanks to an RBI single in the 10th from Alec Bohm
The Mets did not take advantage of their ghost runner in the 10th inning - Francisco Álvarez rolled over a pitch to the left side, and both Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso struck out to keep the Mets scoreless in the 10th
The Mets have been completely eliminated from playoff contention in 2023
The Mets are now 10-10 in September, 23-28 in one-run games, 7-3 in extra innings, 3-73 when trailing after 8 innings, 21-23 against the NL East, 57-28 when scoring four or more runs, 11-57 when allowing five or more runs, and 29-35 since the All-Star Game
Roster Moves 🗞️
RHP Peyton Battenfield recalled from Triple-A Syracuse
RHP Jeff Brigham optioned to Triple-A Syracuse
Who’s Hot🔥
Over his last 7 starts, Tylor Megill is 2-2 with a 3.35 ERA, a span of 37.2 IP
Over his last 39 games, Brandon Nimmo is hitting .323/.399/.576 with 11 doubles, a triple, nine home runs, 17 RBI, 51 total hits and 19 walks
Prospect Watch 🌾
Brandon Mclwain (Triple-A Syracuse): 0-for-2, 4 BB, RBI
Wyatt Young (Triple-A Syracuse): 3-for-5, 2B, RBI, R
José Peroza (Triple-A Syracuse): 1-for-3, 2 BB, 2B, 2 R
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (71-83) at Phillies (85-69)
Where: Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia, PA
Starting pitchers: LHP José Quintana (3-5, 3.02 ERA) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (12-6, 3.63 ERA)
When: 4:05 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Tylor Megill is progressing, despite still being rough around the edges… ✍️
While he always seems to be an endless work-in-progress, there have been good things happening for Tylor Megill and maybe, just maybe he is starting to turn a corner for the Mets.
Megill pitched extremely well on Friday against the Phillies, allowing nothing over the game’s first five innings. He got into a bit of trouble in the sixth inning and ultimately couldn’t wiggle out of it, surrendering a three-run home run to JT Realmuto which ended his night.
Still, for Megill it was a job well done.
Now, that doesn’t at all excuse the home run he allowed. That was a big moment requiring a big moment pitch, and he laid a fat one in for Realmuto to crush. It was bad pitch selection in a bad spot in a bad ballpark to miss. The next step in his growing process will be to figure out how to fight his way through those problems and make a big pitch for an out in that kind of situation.
But Mets manager Buck Showalter was clearly testing Megill and his ability to do just that and hold a lead while navigating the choppiest waters of the game. He’s a guy who gives up a lot of home runs thanks in large measure to the lack of sink on any of his pitches. In another world where the Mets are contending, Showalter would probably have pulled Megill as a result but in this game under these conditions for the Mets, they just had to see what he could and would do with Realmuto.
Unfortunately, he missed, and good players on good teams will always make a pitcher pay in those spots, especially in a pennant race, that which the Mets are now officially eliminated from.
But overall, the Mets have to be very pleased with the work Megill has done despite still being a bit rough around the edges. He’s going deeper into games, maintaining his velocity deeper into games. He’s been leaning on that fastball a lot during this adjustment period and in general, aside from the gopher ball, it’s been working for him.
He has a 3.35 ERA over his last seven starts, a span of 37.1 IP. He does allow a lot of contact - he’s allowed 39 hits during that stretch and opponents have an .801 OPS against him, but that’s largely due to the seven home runs he’s allowed during this span.
He’s also stayed healthy the entire year, making a total of 30 starts between Triple-A Syracuse and the Mets.
So, again this is all progress but there is still work to do. If he could get a little more downward run on his fastball, that would transition a lot of these balls in the air into balls on the ground, limit the hard hit rate and help limit some runs against him.
He will have one more start to make his case as a rotation candidate in 2024 next week at Citi Field, a place he normally pitches well in. I’d probably place him ahead of David Peterson right now, especially since Peterson is one of two lefties and Joey Lucchesi has unquestionably stood out over Peterson in this audition. But I don’t know if Megill places above Lucchesi or José Buttó, who has also perhaps turned a corner with his command.
That’s not to say that any of this will matter anyway. If the Mets sign three starting pitchers this winter, that means these four guys will be depth and Triple-A shuttle pieces again in 2024.
I suppose we shall see how the cookie crumbles.
Around the League 🚩
The Twins edged the Angels 8-6 in Minneapolis to clinch the AL Central title
The Brewers routed the Marlins 16-1 to clinch a playoff berth while pushing Miami one game out of a wild card spot
The Rangers won their third game in a row with their 8-5 win over the Mariners, who are now one game behind Texas in the AL West
The Astros’ struggle continued with a 7-5 loss to the Royals at home - they are now 1/2 game behind Texas in the AL West
The Padres won their eighth game in a row thanks to a two-homer night from Manny Machado - they are four games out of the third wild card spot with eight games to go