It’s the 2024 Sailboat Series—the spring training edition of the Subway Series in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The New York Mets took on the New York Yankees at Clover Park, and the Mets sent Tylor Megill to the mound for his third start of the spring. Megill has been pretty impressive so far in his first two starts, competing for a spot in the rotation. The Mets would win 5-4, and Megill stole the show, impressing yet again.
While the Yankees didn’t field Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Giancarlo Stanton, and DJ LeMahieu in the starting lineup on this day, Megill pitched really well regardless. He shut out the Yankees for three innings with six strikeouts and two walks. Megill recorded 10 whiffs on 22 swing attempts. So far in the preseason, he has a 14.6 K/9 rate, and his ERA sits at 1.13. With Kodai Senga starting the season on the injured list and the Mets not sure when exactly he’ll be back, they’ll need Megill to carry these performances into the regular season.
Offensive Starters Show Out In Third Inning
The Mets lineup featured most of their starting nine, with Jeff McNeil being the lone exception. They exploded for a five-run third inning off Yankees pitcher Yerry De Los Santos.
Brandon Nimmo doubled to the opposite field after Zack Short singled to begin the inning. Starling Marte drove in Short on a ground out to make it 1-0. Francisco Lindor hit a towering double that hit the right field wall, scoring Nimmo. After Pete Alonso struck out and Francisco Álvarez walked, Brett Baty roped an RBI single with an exit velocity of 107.9 mph into right field that scored Lindor. Álvarez and Baty would later score on a bizarre play as Yankees catcher Ben Rortvedt dropped the ball on a pitch and rolled behind him while he struggled to find the ball. The Mets led 5-0.
Player Of The Game: Tylor Megill
This one goes to Megill. Megill gave a very encouraging performance in his third consecutive spring game. With Opening Day weeks away, Megill is pulling away in the competition for a spot in the Mets starting pitching rotation. To this point, he has most certainly earned it.
On Deck
The Mets will head to West Palm Beach, Florida, to face the Houston Astros tomorrow afternoon. Speaking of the rotation competition, Joey Lucchesi will start and make his spring training debut against Houston. The game will be televised on MLB Network at 1:10 p.m.
