ATLANTA — Tyler Megill gave the Mets a chance in the biggest start of his major league career, but it was enough.
The right-hander, who finished the final month of the regular season well after returning from the minor leagues, pitched 5 2/3 innings in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Braves on Monday as his team earned an 8-7 victory. He allowed 3 earned runs. That gave the Mets a postseason berth.
Megill was chosen to pitch in Game 1 so that if the team won Game 1, the Mets could keep Luis Severino in the Wild Card Series opener.
Severino ended up with the ball in his hands on Tuesday, mission accomplished.
Megill withstood heavy early traffic and allowed a two-run home run to Ozzie Abbies in the third to put the Mets up 2-0.
Megill allowed two more hits in the first inning, but escaped.
Ramon Laureano hit a home run against Megill in the sixth inning.
Joey Lucchesi from Triple-A Syracuse was selected to start the nightcap of the doubleheader. This came at the expense of reliever Alex Young, who was optioned to the minors, meaning he won't be recalled for 15 days.
In order to add Lucchesi to the 40-man roster, the Mets placed Christian Scott on the 60-day injured list.
The Mets got everything they wanted from Lucchesi, who pitched six innings and allowed one earned run in a 3-0 loss to the Braves.
The left-hander threw 111 pitches, minimizing his exposure to the Mets' bullpen. The final two innings were shared between Huascar Brazoban and Adam Ottavino (both also appeared in Game 1).
This will allow the Mets to rest relief pitchers Jose Butt, Reid Garrett and Ryne Stanek for Game 1 against the Brewers.
The Mets must finalize their 26-player Wild Card Series roster.
Although Eddie Alvarez would have been 28 years old at the end of the regular season, Eddie Alvarez is ineligible for the postseason as a player acquired in a trade after September 1st.
It also seems unlikely that looks have a role.
Brett Batty was among the players who took part in the wild-card celebration in the Mets' clubhouse.
Batty spent most of the season with Syracuse and was considered for the big league roster in September until he broke his index finger. He returned to Syracuse's lineup late in the season.
