Megill Leads Mets to 9-3 Win Over Miami

The gun has sounded and the race to be the Mets’ fifth starter is officially on.

Tylor Megill got a terrific jump out of the gates on Monday, firing four scoreless innings against the Miami Marlins. His spring ERA is now a minuscule 1.08 as he and David Peterson compete for the final spot in the Mets Opening Day rotation.

Megill made his third start of the spring, as the Mets beat Miami 9-3.

It was the longest outing he’s made so far as his pitch count neared 60. His final line was 4.0 innings pitched, three hits, one walk, and three strikeouts.

Now Peterson will have his chance to catch up. Through two spring training appearances, Peterson has been flawless, tossing four innings and striking out four batters. He’ll start Tuesday against the Nationals at 1:10 p.m.

Megill started the 2022 season in the Mets rotation but only lasted until May when he was placed on the injured list that would keep him out of big-league action for the majority of the season and a bullpen role when he made a larger return in late September.

While Megill was sidelined, Peterson shined. In 28 games for the Mets last season, Peterson maintained a 3.83 ERA over 105.2 innings pitched. A major bounceback from his abbreviated 2021 and a step back toward the dominance he showed as a rookie in the abbreviated 2020 season.

The Mets planned for both of them to be depth for the upcoming season. Jose Quintana being out for the next three months has changed that plan. Quintana isn’t expected back until the All-Star break after suffering a stress fracture in the fifth rib on his left side.

Without Quintana, the Mets do not have a lefty in their starting five. Peterson fills that role but it was reported the team prefers Megill right now.

Megill and Peterson aren’t the only two trying to prove they deserve to be the big league squad.

Outfielder Tim Locastro’s strong spring continued. Batting leadoff he went 1-for-2 with a run scored and a run batted in. It was a triple, his first of the spring.

Locastro was followed by Lorenzo Cedrola who went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs.

A few vets were in the lineup with mixed results.

Tommy Pham has yet to get the ball rolling this spring. He finished 0-for-3 with a walk as his spring average kept lowering to .143. Darin Ruf had his best game so far, going 2-for-3 with a run, RBI, double, and walk. Tomas Nido was terrific going 2-for-3 with a double, home run, and three runs batted in. Nido is now hitting .375 this spring.

Mets prospects had a down game. Mark Vientos was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, Francisco Alvarez was 0-for-3 with one strikeout, and Ronny Mauricio was 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

Alvarez made it a goal to make the big leagues out of camp but has shown no sign of making it up soon with a .105 batting average in 19 at-bats.

Stephen Nogosek was roughed up for three runs in an inning and two-thirds. He struggled with command, walking three Marlins. He also allowed two hits, including a home run. Nogosek’s last outing was March 1.

Player of the Game: Tomas Nido

Nido isn’t looking to give up his job to Francisco Alvarez. A strong spring will keep him in the Mets backstop rotation. His big day at the plate earns him the nod.

On Deck:

The Mets (7-8) are back at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie tomorrow afternoon to host the Washington Nationals. David Peterson is on the mound for New York.

The post Megill Leads Mets to 9-3 Win Over Miami first appeared on Metsmerized Online.