Tylor Megill Records First Major League Win Against Blue Jays

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

With the acquisition of Rich Hill and more moves expected to come before the July 30 trade deadline, Tylor Megill did not appear to have much job security in the Mets’ rotation. After being called up to the majors at the end of June, Megill has given the Mets everything they could have hoped for over his first five career starts. Megill faced the biggest test of his young career on Friday when he faced the heavy hitting Toronto Blue Jays.

Facing the top of the Blue Jays lineup in the first, Megill did not run into much trouble. After Marcus Semien grounded out to Jonathan Villar at shortstop to begin the game, Megill walked Bo Bichette on four pitches in front of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. After working Guerrero down and away throughout the at-bat, Megill struck him out on an up and in fastball. Although Bichette stole second on the pitch, he was stranded there when former future Met George Springer popped out to short to end the inning.

The Blue Jays did not fare much better in the second inning. Teoscar Hernandez and Randal Grichuk with back-to-back groundouts to short and third base. Cavan Biggio followed with a single to right for the Blue Jays’ first hit of the game, but an Alejandro Kirk dribbler back to Megill ended the inning.

In the third, Megill got on a role that started with his first 1-2-3 inning of the night. Steven Matz led off the inning with another groundout to Villar at short. Semien struck out chasing a changeup in the dirt before Bichette popped out to Luis Guillorme at second base to retire the side.

Megill looked like he would be in early trouble in the fourth. He fell behind 3-0 on Guerrero, but he got his 3-0 fastball in just enough to keep Guerrero in the park on a line out to Brandon Nimmo in center field. After Springer lined out to short, Megill finished another 1-2-3 inning by striking out Hernandez on the low changeup.

After four brilliant innings where the Blue Jays were not able to do any damage, Megill got some help from his defense to keep Toronto from threatening. Grichuk led off the fifth inning with a ground ball to the left side that looked like it would split Villar and J.D. Davis, but Davis made the running stop before spinning and firing a strike across the diamond to get Grichuk. Biggio struck out chasing a high fastball before Kirk singled to right to end Megill’s streak of Blue Jays retired at nine. Working with a runner on base for the first time since the second inning, Megill reached a 3-2 count on Matz before striking him out looking at a knee-high fastball.

“OH WOW” is always a vote of confidence from Gare. pic.twitter.com/YmioqJsaxK

— Metsmerized (@Metsmerized) July 24, 2021

After getting his first MLB hit in the bottom of the fifth, Megill started the sixth inning with no runs allowed for the second consecutive start. Semien popped up to Villar in shallow left field to begin the inning. Bichette followed with a bloop to right field that looked like it would fall in for a hit, Michael Conforto made a full-extension diving catch to rob the Blue Jays’ shortstop. Guerrero finished the inning and Megill’s night with one last groundout to Villar at short.

DEFENSE!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/v4tnZWjk9P

— Metsmerized (@Metsmerized) July 24, 2021

Megill’s final line: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.

When Megill was called up, the Mets were hoping he would be able to keep them in enough games to stay in the NL East race until the injured pitchers returned. He has since made a case for himself that he should remain in the Mets rotation long-term. The Blue Jays potent offense was easily the biggest challenge Megill has faced in the majors, and he responded with his best performance of the season.

“I go out there thinking I’m the best man out there,” Megill said. “There is no reason to be scared while you’re out there. You’re there for a reason. Go out and pitch.”

Although he was expected to just be a stopgap, Megill’s ability to mix his pitches, pitch around the entire strike zone and put batters away with both his fastball and his changeup showed that he has the ability to be a potential mainstay in the Mets’ rotation. The Mets have been linked to a number of starting pitchers leading up to the trade deadline. They are going to have to seriously consider running Megill out there every fifth day even after the trade deadline, and postgame comments from Luis Rojas show that he has already sold some within the organization that he deserves that opportunity.

“This guy is here,” Rojas said, “and he is here to stay.”

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