WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — In 2022, Jacob DeGrom's injury helped Tyler Megill rotate the Mets at the beginning of the season.
The following year, Justin Verlander went down on the first day to open the spot.
And a year ago, Megill won the competition for spots from spring training.
However, each year, right-handers were unable to remain in the rotation during the season.
For that to change, Megill said he needs to take one important step.
“Consistency,” Megill said. “It's always been my downfall, I'll say, that you can tie a good start. I have a good start stint, then three or four bad start ruts.”
This spring, Megill is lined up to open the year again for free agent signatures Sean Mania and Frankie Montas, who threw four shutout innings at the Astros 7-4 exhibition against a solid Houston lineup at Sacty Park in Palm Beach on Tuesday.
He also hit five people, including the first Jose Altuve and Jordan Alvarez.
Megill said his goal was “Don't try to be too perfect.”
This year I want to go deeper into the game. I have to be more efficient. ”
It appears that Kodai Senga, David Peterson and Clay Holmes are trapping the first three spots. Megill, Paul Blackburn and Griffin Canning all have regular season shots in rotation.
Carlos Mendoza likes what he saw from Megill's first two starts and believes that pitcher time in the majors will pay off this year.
“He's going through it now,” Mendoza said. “He has a big league thing and there's something to play at this level. He's taking that next step.”
Brandon Nimo (Nee's Pain) was scheduled to return to Port St. Lucie on Tuesday to resume baseball activities, Mendoza said.
“He'll go to the field [Tuesday and Wednesday]and see where we are,” Mendoza said.
The manager added that Nimmo “continues to feel better.”
Nemo was gel injection in his right knee and played in just one game this spring. He says he hopes to return to Grapefruitrigue's actions this week.
Sterling Marte felt energized after appearing in his first spring match on Monday while dealing with bone bruising in his right knee.
Mendoza said he was “welling up” on Tuesday after Marte served as DH and is due to return to DH on Wednesday.
Francisco Alvarez is expected to return to the Port St. Lucie camp on Wednesday, Mendoza said.
Lewis Torrens' backup race continued with Houston on Tuesday, along with Hayden Senger Get Started.
Senger abandoned Isaac Paredes, trying to steal second to finish the third.
Max Kranick pitched another scoreless inning on Tuesday, hitting two more batters. Mendoza said “for now” that the 27-year-old right-handed man has been built as a hefty rescuer.
According to Mendoza, Megill's start was pushed back a day later due to bad weather on Monday, so Prospect Nolan McLean pitched into the Port St. Lucie backfield rather than coming out of the Astros at Port St. Lucie's minor league camp.
Justin Hagenman was one of the choices for minor league camp this week, but Mendoza said at some point he might still get an opportunity in the rotation.
The manager said Hagenmann remains a minor starter. “He's a strike lower. He's the guy we see a lot.”
The 28-year-old spent last year with Boston's Triple A Worcester affiliate marketing and signed with the Mets in the offseason.
Mendoza, who spent four years as a Yankees bench coach, said it was “embarrassing” that Gerit Cole would miss all of 2025 with Tommy John's surgery.
“I hate seeing that, especially one of the best pitchers in the game,” Mendoza said. “At the end of the day, you're going to be doing a show for baseball fans. It's not good to see someone fall like that. But knowing Gerritt, he's going to do everything he can on his own. That's a shame, but he'll come back.”
