Reese Kaplan -- Three New Arrivals Force Who Off the Mets Roster?

Many people tell me I am too stubborn and opinionated when it comes to supporting players on the Mets.  Most of the time I would agree with you but try to justify my reactions by pointing at the stat sheet.  On some players that approach is easy to do such as D.J. Stewart who contributes pretty much nothing but slow footed walks and occasional power while not being suitable for playing defense anywhere.

I will, however, admit temporarily about being wrong when someone exceeds career norms with a very good performance.  In this case I am talking about the oft-injured and rarely effective Tylor Megill who put up a 2-run effort in what should have been a good enough quality to start to earn a victory.  Unfortunately when the team´s sum total of offense was a rare solo dinger from Tomas Nido, that extra run became an insurmountable hill they could not overcome.

With a career 4.66 ERA the two widely separated games of 2024 point to a better thus far Megill.  His ERA is just 3.00 over 9 innings pitched.  He struck out 11 and held opponents to a .219 batting average against.  All of those achievements need to be pointed out and applauded.

Unfortunately he has also given up five walks and has a slightly below average WHIP of 1.33.  He could have taken a step forward that could push him as he´s about to turn 29 into a middle to back end of the rotation starting pitcher who earns very little money.  Or it could mean as he has done in the past thrown a stretch of good innings but then later matched or exceeded it with unacceptable hits and walks given that lead to the opponents outscoring the Mets (which these days is very easy to do).

This positive return of Megill makes folks wonder if the team will see the same from lefty David Peterson who is also enjoying some outstanding numbers in the minor leagues.  Given the Brooks Raley situation and Jake Diekman´s age, it might make more sense for the club to consider transitioning Peterson later in his career to bullpen duty much as many years ago Dennis Eckersley made that move from mediocre starter to outstanding reliever.

Of course, if the club is insistent on keeping Peterson in the starting rotation when he is ready to advance back to Citifield, the question then arises at whose expense does he get every 5th day to show what he can do?  It would seem that Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and apparently Tylor Megill are temporarily secure in their roles.  Christian Scott vaulted into the highly regarded position, so one recent bad outing isn´t likely putting him in jeopardy of losing his role either, yet he does have options. 

Jose Quintana may become trade bait as July approaches.  Adrian House is likely playing for his Mets life on Tuesday when he is being given a somewhat surprising starting pitching assignment.  Given that they dropped Grant Hartwig to make room for Megill, the bullpen is slightly slimmer than it had been, so the club is probably holding out hope he can last for at least 5 innings. 

Throw in the eventual return of Kodai Senga and it would appear that the Mets will have to do a bit of a starting pitching clearance sale to entice other clubs into fortifying them with prospects and salary relief as they start looking towards the final two months of this season and the 2025 season yet to come. 

For now the fact that they got a decent start out of Megill is time to at least pop the top on an imported beer if not champagne.