One of the reasons behind the New York Mets‘ strong start is pitcher Tylor Megill.
New York is 7-3, already enjoying a 2.5-game cushion through Monday.
Megill, who entered the rotation to help replace injured star Jacob deGrom, opened the season with an impressive streak of 16 1/3 scoreless innings, dating back to last season.
This year, he pitched 10.1 frames without being scored upon.
The streak, however, is a thing of the past now, since the San Francisco Giants ruined it on Tuesday afternoon.
“Tylor Megill’s scoreless streak ends at 16 1/3 innings dating to last season, as Joc Pederson takes him deep to center. Mets 1, Giants 1, top two,” MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo tweeted.
Tylor Megill's scoreless streak ends at 16 1/3 innings dating to last season, as Joc Pederson takes him deep to center.
Mets 1, Giants 1, top two.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) April 19, 2022
His First Really Bad Start Of The Year
At the moment of writing this article, however, the Giants had scored four earned runs off Megill in 3.1 frames, in which he allowed six hits and a walk, with just one strikeout.
It’s his first bad outing of the year, as he had shut down the Washington Nationals for five innings on Opening Day, and then the Philadelphia Phillies for 5.1 frames in his second game.
His ERA for the season now stands at 2.63: a fine number even after today’s clunker.
The Mets have to be very happy with what they have gotten out of Megill.
It appears he put on some work over the offseason, as he came to 2022 touching 99 mph and averaging 96.5 mph on his fastball, almost two ticks higher than his 2021 numbers.
The increased velocity plays well for him because it gives hitters less time to adjust to his heater, and complements his breaking stuff perfectly.
With that kind of velo increase, there is hope for Megill to become a staple in the Mets’ rotation even after deGrom returns.
NEXT: Mets Insider Reveals When Jacob deGrom Can Begin Throwing Again