Tylor Megill has officially been given a spot in the New York Mets’ rotation, as manager Carlos Mendoza disclosed on Sunday that the right-hander will start the second game of the 2025 season down in Houston against the Astros on Friday night.
Megill had been a part of a three-arm race alongside Griffin Canning and Paul Blackburn for the two final spots of the Mets’ starting staff after Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas were sidelined with injuries.
Mendoza hinted that “there is a good chance,” that Canning will pitch in the third game against the Astros on Saturday night, meaning Blackburn will start the season in the bullpen until the schedule picks up and the Mets eventually pivot to a six-man rotation.
“Whoever goes to the bullpen, the thinking behind it, is that we’re going to have to keep these guys stretched out,” Mendoza said. “We’re going to need them to make starts.”
Megill, who has spent the last four seasons in and out of the rotation, posted a 4.24 ERA across 17 spring innings with 18 strikeouts and four walks. The 29-year-old has a track record of putting together productive starts early in the season. Throughout Megill’s first four years in the majors, he has a 2.84 ERA with a 1.175 WHIP in March and April starts. In all other months, he has a 4.91 ERA with a 1.509 WHIP.
Canning has become one of the breakout stars of spring training, entering Sunday’s action with a sterling 0.90 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 10 innings pitched.
Blackburn, who was acquired from the Athletics to bolster the rotation last summer, has struggled since returning from spinal surgery, allowing eight earned runs in 12.2 spring innings.
With Clay Holmes already announced as the team’s Opening Day starter, David Peterson and Kodai Senga will round out the rotation and start the first two games of the Mets’ next series in Miami against the Marlins. Megill is projected to get the ball for the home opener on April 4 against the Toronto Blue Jays.
