Myers Impresses in Early Appearances with the Mets

ST. LOUIS — Tobias Myers’ initial outings with the Mets serve as a reminder that he wasn’t simply included in the trade for Freddy Peralta; there’s more to him than that.

The right-handed pitcher has looked sharp in his first two games, most notably during one relief stint against the Cardinals where he struck out three batters in a clean inning on Monday.

Although Myers didn’t get a chance to pitch in Tuesday night’s game against the Cardinals, he did contribute on opening day against the Pirates, throwing three innings and allowing just one earned run on a single hit.

Last season, he began in the Brewers’ starting rotation but was later demoted to Triple-A, returning to the majors as a multi-inning reliever.

“It’s quite similar to what I was doing the last couple of months of the previous year,” Myers mentioned on Tuesday, discussing his new long relief role. “I think we have a bit more direction at the outset, but essentially, it feels familiar.”

Myers shared that his approach requires him to always be prepared. “It certainly helps me in a way,” he noted. “In this role, I could be called upon at any point, be it the first inning, the ninth, or even the fourteenth. So, I’m always moving around and trying to stay ready for when the phone rings.”

He had built up to 60 pitches during spring training, which secured him a place in the starting lineup if needed. In his Mets debut, he tossed 39 pitches and followed up with 14 in Monday’s relief.

“Even if I threw 50 pitches last week, I don’t think it’s a major issue as long as I feel prepared,” Myers explained. He mentioned manager Carlos Mendoza’s reassurance on how he’s handling it.

This past Tuesday, Jorge Polanco was sidelined due to a sore left Achilles tendon, but Mendoza suggested a return to the starting lineup was likely for Wednesday’s final game of the series. It’s still uncertain if this would mean playing at first base.

On the same night, Jared Young started at first base for the second consecutive game, contributing one of the Mets’ three hits, while Mark Vientos went 0-for-2 in his first start of the season.

“We’re in the midst of a nine-game series,” Mendoza explained about Polanco’s break. “He was going to rest today regardless. He seemed to wake up feeling better.”