Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
According to the Mets’ transaction page, starting pitcher Tylor Megill is being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
The 6’7 righty has had a tumultuous season, culminating in his last start in Houston on Wednesday. Megill only lasted 2 1/3 IP while giving up four earned runs and increasing his ERA to 5.17 on the season. Tylor’s performance this season is a microcosm of the Mets team as a whole, full of inconsistencies.
In Megill’s past five starts, the Mets have only managed to win one of those games, and he has only gone into the sixth inning twice during that span. His inability to throw strikes has hampered his success this year as Megill has given up 39 walks in his 71 1/3 IP this year, which is one less than the 40 walks he accumulated in his 137 innings of work in 2021 and 2022. Tylor was given a bigger role due to the early injuries of Justin Verlander and Jose Quintana, but he has not been able to perform to expectation this season.
One of the possible replacements for Tylor Megill is Joey Lucchesi, a crafty southpaw. Coming off Tommy John surgery, Lucchesi put up a 4.43 ERA and 1.343 WHIP in his five starts for the Mets, including a dazzling 2023 debut where he shut out the San Francisco Giants for seven innings. While Lucchesi had a couple of rocky starts following that performance, he has impressed since being sent down to Triple-A, boasting a 2.33 ERA and earning International League Pitcher of the Week honors as well.
The Mets also are planning to make another pitching move as they intend to call up right-handed reliever Vinny Nittoli, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Nittoli, who pitched for Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic this March, was acquired from the Cubs earlier this month and is already on the 40-man roster. After three straight scoreless outings in Syracuse, the Mets are hoping Nittoli can provide some much-needed bullpen depth as they head to Philadelphia.
