Mets starter Tylor Megill expected back in rotation later this week vs. Angels
Mets pitcher Tylor Megill throws during the first inning against the Phillies on April 29 at Citi Field. Credit: AP/Adam Hunger
SAN DIEGO — Nearly four weeks after getting placed on the injured list with right bicep tendinitis, Tylor Megill had a firm eye on his next turn in the rotation.
Megill, who was placed on the injured list on May 12, would be set to pitch either Friday or Saturday against the Angels in Anaheim, Buck Showalter said Tuesday, though everything would be dependent on how Megill feels Wednesday. Megill said he’s feeling no discomfort and could likely throw around 70-75 pitches; he threw 53 pitches in his one rehab start with Double-A Binghamton last week.
“Everything is going well (and) I’m ready to go,” said Megill, who’s 4-1 with a deceptive 4.41 ERA. Megill was pitching to a 2.43 ERA in his first six starts before allowing eight earned runs in 1 1/3 innings to the lowly Nationals the day before he hit the IL.
“Probably the last week and a half that it’s felt the best that it has and is back to normal,” Megill said of his arm. “Velo is there, stuff is there. My body is telling me that I feel well, so, for the most part, you know, I listen my body, and if my body is telling me I’m ready to go, I’m ready to go.”
J.D. OK at first
J.D. Davis, who played at first base Monday for the first time since 2018, acquitted himself well enough though probably needs a little refinement, Showalter said. Davis made a handful of solid plays, and no glaring mistakes, and appears to be a suitable option for days Pete Alonso needs a rest.
“So far, so good,” Showalter said. “He’s engaged. He can do it. The big thing is going to be the footwork — the footwork and the clock … Other than the catcher, no one handles the ball more than the first baseman. You don’t know how important it is until you don’t have somebody.”
Plummer starts
The Mets sat Mark Canha Tuesday in an effort to get Nick Plummer a few regular at-bats; Plummer started as the DH and hit eighth. Plummer, who began the season in Triple-A, came into Tuesday with 12 at-bats in seven games, hitting .333 with five RBIs and two homers.
“He’s doing well and we don’t want him to get too far away from the field,” Showalter said. “If I say to him, hey, you can go down to Syracuse and play every day or you can play here every third or fourth day, we know what the answer would be, but you try to think through it logically, too. He had some good at-bats in the last game he played, so maybe we can get an ambush out of him tonight.”
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
