Brandon Sproat was one half of clearing up a NY Mets rotation question

September baseball compresses an entire season into each inning. Every pitch carries more weight, every at-bat carries higher stakes, and rotations are tested under a microscope. For the New York Mets, Sunday offered a glimpse of that pressure, where top pitching prospects and returning pitchers are measured not just by results, but by how they handle the grind, and how they might fit into the final stretch of the season.

On the mound, Brandon Sproat and Tylor Megill told very different stories. Sproat’s debut showcased enough poise and efficiency to grab attention, while Megill’s rehab start didn’t produce the same reassurance. With 19 games left, the contrast between these outings begins to shape the Mets’ rotation, hinting at which arms could play a role in the final weeks, and which questions remain to be answered.

The Mets have a sharper look at their rotation going forward

Megill’s latest rehab start didn’t exactly help his case to rejoin the Mets rotation. He lasted just 2+ innings, giving up four hits, two walks, and five earned runs while striking out three. For a team sorting through options with only 19 games left, the outing raised real questions about whether Megill can slot back in as a starter or if another role might be more realistic.

That uncertainty is magnified by the fact that Kodai Senga’s struggles created an opening in the first place. Sent down to recalibrate, Senga’s spot in the rotation went to Brandon Sproat, who found himself on a major-league mound for the first time Sunday. It was a debut with all the intensity of an audition, and the 24-year-old handled it with more command than the box score might suggest.

Sproat didn’t allow a hit through the first five innings, ultimately striking out seven across six frames while giving up three hits, four walks, and three earned runs. A string of three straight hits in the sixth accounted for two of his three runs, but he steadied himself quickly and showed the poise of someone who expects to stick around. When paired with Megill’s rough line, the contrast made the rotation picture far clearer—and for the Mets, it’s hard not to see Sproat as part of it.

Sunday’s split performances may have carried more weight than just another pair of box scores. With Senga working things out in the minors, the Mets needed a glimpse of what comes next. Sproat provided it with a debut worth building on, while Megill’s outing reminded everyone his path back won’t be straightforward. For the Mets, the day offered clarity on what the rotation could look like down the stretch.