2 Mets players who will exceed expectations and 2 who will fall short

Who are fans underrating and who is getting too much credit?

Jun 9, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) and center
Jun 9, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) and center | Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
4 of 4

Tylor Megill won’t improve as much as some think he will

A new pitch shouldn’t have anyone expecting Tylor Megill to necessarily stick around in the major leagues. He has a long way to go to prove he isn’t just the sixth starter on this ball club. Flashes of success in past seasons with a tendency to drop off, he remains a bit of a mystery.

A successful spring for Megill was the first step in proving he should be more than an emergency option for the Mets. As one of the small number of controllable starting pitchers on the 40-man roster, this is a huge year for him to showcase himself. He enters the season with some fans insistent on a huge improvement. Is he really going to be anything more than a fifth starter?

Some will cite last year’s finish as a hint of what’s to come. Megill had a strong final month, going 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA. However, with a 1.22 WHIP and a strikeout rate of 7.1 per 9 which was the second lowest of any month last year, there aren’t a whole lot of impressive numbers other than the run prevention.

For Megill, expecting anything better than an average season is generous. He’ll have an early opportunity to prove the believers right and his doubters wrong. Complicating a chance for success further will be some possible movement on the roster from the majors to the minors and back again. If the Mets are any good this year, he’s probably not going to be one of the top ten reasons why.

Schedule