Mets starter Tylor Megill is no stranger to a good start to a season.
After all, this is the player who got the Opening Day assignment in 2022 after just 18 career starts and went on his way to a 4-0 record in April with a 1.93 ERA, looking like New York’s next great starting pitcher.
It hasn’t quite worked out that way for the right-hander in his still-early career and his time with the Mets entering this season was potentially on the line if he didn’t produce like he and the team know he’s capable of — especially after starters Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas went down during camp, which opened up a spot for Megill in the rotation.
Given another opportunity to prove his value, Megill has taken full advantage of the moment which was none more evident in his outing against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night at Citi Field, where he struck out 10 in 5.1 scoreless innings.
“He knows his stuff is good,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Especially when he’s in the strike zone. We saw it today, every time he was in the strike zone he got swing and misses, especially with the fastball today. The fastball, the sinker — that combo today, it had life. I just feel like now he knows that when he’s in the strike zone, his stuff plays.”
Like most starts Megill has gotten off to, the 29-year-old has shined so far in April and owns a 1.09 ERA through five starts — the fourth-lowest in MLB.
However, this time feels different as the right-hander appears to have finally heeded the advice of his manager and “just attack hitters” with his stuff.
“I’m definitely more confident in my stuff,” Megill said. “Mendy preaches, ‘Your stuff is good, just attack hitters,’ and obviously it’s been showing.”
Another big reason why Megill has looked so good on the mound is his addition of a sinker to his repertoire. It’s a pitch he called a “game changer” for him after Monday’s win.
“It was good to see him going right after [hitters]. That’s what you want to see. Challenge guys, attack them,” Mendoza said.
This great start that Megill is off to didn’t happen overnight, though.
After getting hurt at the beginning of last season, Megill returned in May and briefly pitched well before things fell apart for him in June which landed him back in Triple-A.
Because of injuries, Megill returned to the club a month later and ended the season on a high-note, pitching well for the Mets down the stretch and in a playoff hunt. As it turns out, that experience had a profound impact on Megill.
“Last year, I had some good momentum towards the end of the year and finishing the season and then obviously trying to be a guy that sticks and is around,” he said. “Like I said before, it’s a great time to be a Met right now and I don’t want to end up leaving somewhere … I want to be around for these guys and help them win every time I go out there.”
Right now, Megill is doing that and looks to finally be headed in the right direction to be a mainstay in New York’s starting rotation, four years after his MLB debut.
Even not at full strength, the Mets are still clicking on all cylinders and have won five straight games, opening up a three-game lead on the Phillies in the NL East standings.
While it’s still early, New York has to be pleased with the product on the field to start the season.
“Overall we’ve been playing really well, everyone’s pulling for each other, bullpen’s killing it, starting pitching is killing it so I’d say we’re in a good spot right now,” Megill said.
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