MILWAUKEE — Tyler Megill will be on the biggest stage of his career as the Mets' opening act Monday.
The right-hander was named the starter for Game 1 after the Mets defeated the Brewers 5-0 on Sunday, setting up a doubleheader the next day in Atlanta, with a win clinching a spot in the postseason.
Megill will face Spencer Schwellenbach.
Another option while Carlos Mendoza is fully rested is Luis Severino, who will be saved for Game 2 against Braves ace Chris Sale.
However, if the Braves win Game 1, Sale will almost certainly be held back from starting the next day's postseason opener in Atlanta.
If the Mets win Game 1, they will be in a position to not start Severino in the nightcap, and Severino could pitch in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.
Megill is a player who still has a minor league option, so he could be an unlucky victim if the Mets need to bring back a starter from the minor leagues to pitch a nightcap.
Megill has started five games and has a 1.78 ERA since returning from Triple-A Syracuse.
He last pitched on September 22 against the Phillies, pitching four innings and allowing one earned run.
Francisco Alvarez felt a hamstring spasm in his right leg and warned Mendoza, who sent him off in the closing stages.
Alvarez does not consider the situation serious and said he plans to play on Monday.
The catcher left Friday's game with back spasms, and at the time it appeared his season would be over, but he returned from the bench the next day.
Mendoza defended his decision to bring in Edwin Diaz in the ninth inning when the Mets led by five runs.
Diaz hasn't pitched in the past week due to Monday's off day, the postponement and three games in which the Mets trailed late.
“We couldn’t get much length from our starting pitchers.” [previous] “Diaz especially needed to pitch in a winnable game, given the three days and the way we used our bullpen,” Mendoza said. “He'll be fine.” [Monday]”
Diaz said he would be fine with playing in both games on Monday if needed.
JD Martinez isn't afraid to say this. The possibility of starting a playoff series after playing Monday's doubleheader is less than ideal.
“I wish MLB would delay the playoffs a little bit longer,” Martinez said. “I think this is an unfair advantage for the teams playing against us.” [and/or] Atlanta, because we know what's at stake and we're going to have to be a scratch to win those games. “We have to do that. That's the only way to enter the country. Then we have to turn back and get on a plane. It's going to be tough because we already left the day before.”
Jose Iglesias had two hits in five at bats, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 20 games.
Iglesias is hitting .418 during the winning streak.
Ozzie Virgil Sr., the first Dominican-born player to play in the major leagues and a longtime player development coach and advisor for the Mets, has died at the age of 92, MLB announced.
Last year, the Mets inducted Virgil into the club's new Latin American Hall of Fame.
