If you are a New York Mets starting pitcher not named Kodai Senga in 2023, chances are your season has been rough. Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer being majorly inconsistent. José Quintana missing most of the season to this point because of rib surgery. Carlos Carrasco struggling and reverting back to what the Mets saw in 2021. Perhaps the biggest disappointments in the staff are the youngsters. David Peterson and Tylor Megill have both regressed severely this year and the Mets are baffled about it. Both guys showed a lot of promise the last few years. Especially Megill who just last year contributed to the teams second no-hitter in their history. Peterson was sent down to the minors on May 17th after pitching to an 8.08 ERA and a -0.9 WAR, and the same has now happened to Megill.
Tylor Megill Sent Down
Megill entered the season with a lot more upside than Peterson because of his solid 2021 season. 2022 is a lost year for him after missing 3 months of action because of a right biceps’ inflammation. He would return in September and pitch out of the bullpen. 2023 was a year where he was supposed to solidify himself as a mainstay in the rotation but unfortunately that didn’t happen. The Mets sent Megill down to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday June 22nd after his latest outing against the Houston Astros. He threw 2.1 innings pitched giving up five runs, four of them earned, and four walks. Unfortunately, he also threw a few wild pitches.
Per the Mets' transactions page, Tylor Megill has been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. pic.twitter.com/5oeYVSNfjC
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) June 22, 2023
For the 2023 season, Tylor Megill went 6-4 with a 5.17 ERA in 71.1 innings pitched. Notching a -0.5 WAR under his belt. One of the most alarming things about Megill this season was the increase in hitters batting average and home run percentage against him. Opposing hitters averaged .255 and .253 in 2021 and 2022 against Megill, respectively. In 2023, those averages have jumped up to .284. When it comes to home run percentage, it has gone from a home run every 5.0% at bats, to 2.8%. his innings this season are troublesome for the Mets. Megill has six starts where he failed to go past the 5th inning and that doesn’t help a Mets bullpen that has already been exhausted enough this year.
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Mets Call up a Bullpen Arm and Who Will Be the Replacement in the Rotation?
Per MLB.coms Mets beat writer Anthony DiComo, in a corresponding move the Mets have called up reliever Vinny Nittoli from Triple-A.
The Mets have optioned Tylor Megill to Triple-A Syracuse, according to their transactions page. A not-unexpected rotation shakeup for a team that had considered skipping Megill earlier this month. He has a 7.56 ERA over his last six starts.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) June 23, 2023
Reliever Vinny Nittoli is coming up for now.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) June 23, 2023
The Mets acquired Nittoli for cash considerations on June 2nd. Nittoli pitched for the Seattle Mariners in 2021 and Philadelphia Phillies in 2022 and he hopes to get his first crack at helping the Mets bullpen this weekend. He has a 6.00 ERA in his career. With Megill now out of the Mets rotation, the team has a hole to fill. The obvious and likely candidate to replace him is left-handed starter Joey Lucchesi.
Lucchesi was in the Mets rotation briefly this season. Starting 5 games with a 4.43 ERA, and a 0.2 WAR. His first start was a 7 inning, 9 strikeout performance against the San Francisco Giants. However, Lucchesi would struggle in the four starts after, and he was sent back down to Triple-A where he’s pitched very well. If Lucchesi does get the call back up to the big leagues, he is going to have to step up for a rotation that is in dire need of help.
Photo Credit- Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned- Kodai Senga, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Jose Quintana, Carlos Carrasco, David Peterson, Tylor Megill, Joey Lucchesi
