The New York Mets began the season by getting swept in the team’s opening series at Citi Field on Sunday. In that game, Tylor Megill toed the rubber and struggled with his control significantly. After the game, bench coach John Gibbons said Megill was feeling tenderness in his shoulder and is going to get a precautionary MRI.
As mentioned, despite only allowing one earned run, Megill struggled in his first start of the regular season. He was only able to go four innings, allowing three hits, two runs (one earned), and striking out four. The main issue was the three walks he allowed and one hit batsman. This ballooned his pitch count to 78 (only 44 strikes) resulting in the early exit.
Megill had a decent spring where he struck out 23 over 20 2/3 innings to go along with a 3.92 ERA. However, his major-league career has been full of struggles as the 4.72 ERA and 4.65 FIP over his three-year tenure indicates.
The Mets are already thin at the starting pitcher position. Kodai Senga is on the shelf with a shoulder issue that reared its head in spring training. Further, David Peterson is still rehabbing from offseason hip surgery. If Megill were to miss any time, Jose Buttó, who struggled in his first Triple-A start (5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R) of the season, would be the most realistic option to replace Megill in the rotation.
