Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets turned to right hander Tylor Megill in game one of a three-game series in Atlanta versus the Braves, for his second career big league start.

Megil made his debut against Atlanta last week, so he was forced to go up against the same lineup in the span of a week. It is not easy for a young pitcher to face that challenge, but Megill proved to be up to the task.

The 26-year-old seemed to have improved the feel for his off-speed pitches between starts, as his slider and change-up were generating plenty of swing-and-misses all night.

Megill started off the bottom of the first by striking out Ronald Acuña Jr. and Freddie Freeman on just six pitches, as the rookie made a bid for an immaculate inning. Ozzie Albies fell behind 0-2, but ended up taking a ball before going down swinging as well, with Megill needing just 11 pitches to strike out the side.

Austin Riley began the second inning with a first-pitch single, which was followed up by a Dansby Swanson strikeout. Following a Guillermo Heredia walk, Abraham Almonte flew out advancing Riley to third. William Contreras followed up with a fly out to end the inning, allowing Megill to escape the jam unscathed.

After a Charlie Morton groundout to begin the third inning, Acuña Jr. walked after a questionable call by the home plate umpire Adam Beck. Freeman struck out for Megill’s fifth strikeout of the game, and Albies flew out to end the inning. Through three innings, Megill’s line was: 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB and 5 Ks.

Riley and Swanson went down swinging to begin the fourth inning, which was followed up by a Heredia single. Almonte grounded out to end the inning.

“The kid is pure ice in his veins,” said Mets manager Luis Rojas on Megill after the game.

Contreras flew out to centerfield to begin the fifth inning, which was followed up by another three-pitch strikeout to Morton. Acuña Jr. picked up just the third hit off of Megill with a two-out single to begin the third time around the batting order.

Things seemed like they were going smoothly, until Freeman followed up with a single, which saw Acuña Jr. go first to third. Albies blew things wide open with a first pitch three-run homer that gave the Braves a 3-0 lead. Riley grounded out to end the inning, and Megill’s night. Megill went: 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB with 8 Ks.

When asked about the key to Megill’s success in his first two starts, Megill said, “attacking hitters, having confidence in my stuff, trusting it and letting the defense play.”

Megill is the eighth pitcher in franchise history to strike out eight or more batters in one of his first two career starts. In his first two starts Megill has gone 9 1/3 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 HR, 4 BB and 12 Ks.

After they DFA’d Jerad Eickhoff yesterday, Megill has a clear path to be the Mets fifth starter for the foreseeable future. As long as he keeps throwing the ball the way he did Tuesday night, Megill will only get more opportunities at the big league level.