Following a rash of rotation injuries to begin spring training, the Mets are having better luck with their starting staff this week.
Tylor Megill became the latest Mets pitcher to deliver a solid spring debut, holding a St. Louis Cardinals lineup featuring many of its regulars to one run over 2.1 innings in Tuesday’s 6-1 loss in Jupiter, Fla.
The hulking right-hander hit 98 mph with his fastball and threw 31 of his 47 pitches for strikes.
“I feel good,” Megill said afterward. “Don’t feel like I’m trying too much. Mechanics feel well. Body feels well. Ball’s coming out well.”
That followed Monday night’s 1-1 tie with the Miami Marlins in which ace Kodai Senga hurled two scoreless innings — and debuted a new sinker — and David Peterson struck out five over three scoreless frames in their first appearances of the spring.
Those results are encouraging for a Mets rotation that is set to begin the season with Sean Manaea (right oblique strain) and Frankie Montas (right lat strain) on the injured list.
“We feel like, as an organization, we had depth going into camp,” manager Carlos Mendoza said on ESPN’s broadcast of Tuesday’s game.
“We got tested right away, but yesterday was a very good day for us after watching Senga for the first time, Peterson for the first time, against other teams. They’ve been throwing live [batting practice] and things like that. Today, with Tylor Megill making his first start here.”
Speculation about a reunion with José Quintana came to an end Monday when the veteran left-hander reached a one-year, $4.25 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to MLB.com.
Quintana, 36, went 10-10 with a 3.75 ERA last year but stepped up during the Mets’ postseason push. His 0.74 ERA over his final six starts was the lowest by any MLB starter between Aug. 25 and the end of the regular season. He did not allow an earned run in two of his three playoff starts.
Manaea and Montas’ injuries complicated the possibility of the Mets beginning the season with a six-man rotation that would help replicate the schedule Senga pitched on in Japan.
Shoulder and calf strains limited Senga to only one regular-season start last year, but he is set to begin this season in the rotation, as are Peterson and Clay Holmes.
A traditional five-man rotation would leave two spots for Megill, Paul Blackburn and Griffin Canning. Megill is the only one with a minor-league option remaining.
Blackburn, who suffered a season-ending cerebrospinal fluid leak last year, has allowed three runs over 2.1 innings this spring.
Canning held the Houston Astros scoreless over 1.2 innings in his lone spring appearance. The right-hander signed a one-year deal with the Mets after posting a 5.19 ERA over 32 appearances, including 31 starts, with the Los Angeles Angels last season.
“We feel good with the options that we’ve got,” Mendoza said. “We’ve just got to keep these guys healthy.”
INFIELD OPTIONS
Tuesday marked Brett Baty’s first start at second base and Luisangel Acuña’s first start at third base this spring.
Baty handled three groundouts. Acuña made multiple nice plays, including a leaping catch on a first-inning blooper. He also cleanly corralled a short hop on a third-inning groundout.
The Mets have asked Baty, a third baseman by trade, and Acuña, a middle infielder and center fielder, to take reps at additional positions.
“It’s always a good feeling when you’ve got so many players that can give you options, not only when you’re making out a lineup but when you’re making moves in games,” Mendoza said on ESPN.
The Mets are assessing their infield options after Nick Madrigal, who was expected to be a bench piece, suffered a shoulder fracture.
Baty has never appeared at second base at the MLB level but made 27 starts there at Triple-A Syracuse last year. Acuña has not played third base at any level.