Tylor Megill was terrific making his second start of the spring on Tuesday afternoon.
The Mets’ right-hander cruised his way through a lineup featuring numerous Astros regulars including All-Star’s Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez — allowing just two hits while walking one and striking out five across four innings of work.
“It went really well,” Megill said afterwards.
He did run into some trouble after retiring the side in order in the bottom of the first, as Zach Dezenzo lined a one out double in the second, but Megill settled in nicely and set the next two batters down easily.
He got Altuve to roll over into an inning-ending double play in the third after Mauricio Dubon reached on a one out single, and then was helped out by a strike-em out throw-em out double play to work around a leadoff walk in the fourth.
Megill simply was in control all afternoon, going right after hitters with his full arsenal of pitches — which is exactly what Carlos Mendoza and the Mets are hoping to see from him heading into the season.
“He pounded the zone,” the skipper said. “He got ahead and stayed on the attack, which was really good to see. He only had two or three two ball counts, and both of them were in that last inning with the leadoff walk and the last batter he faced.
“That’s what we want from him. This is a guy that’s been in the league. He’s been up-and-down but he has big-league stuff, his stuff should play at this level. That’s what we want to see. He’s taking that next step, which is encouraging.”
Megill certainly has been encouraging, allowing just one run while striking out seven across 6.2 spring innings.
Even with a minor league option remaining, the 29-year-old has put himself in a very strong spot to crack the big-league rotation to begin the season — but we have seen him put together this type of stretch in the past before faltering off.
Just last season, Megill dominated over his first few starts with the Mets before being sent back down the minors to work through his mechanics — which ultimately led to a strong late-season big-league return.
Heading into this year, he knows he has to be more consistent if he hopes to stick around.
“That’s always been my biggest downfall,” Megill said. “Just being able to string together continual good starts after good starts. I’ll have stints of good starts then I’ll go in ruts where I have three or four bad starts then come back with good starts. As long as I be consistent, I think the outcome is going to be very good.”
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