The 2 best Jose Quintana replacements have stepped up in a big way

With the latest grim news surrounding New York Mets starting pitcher Jose Quintana, the Mets are going to be forced to tap into their starting pitching depth until at least the All-Star break. Two of the options who are options to occupy Quintana's rotation spot include David Peterson and last year's Opening Day starter Tylor Megill.

Luckily for the Mets, both Peterson and Megill had two of their sharpest outings of the spring on back-to-back days this week which provides Mets fans hope that the rotation won't miss a beat during Quintana's absence. In Megill's recent outing against the Miami Marlins, he went 4 scoreless innings allowing only 3 hits with 3 strikeouts and 1 walk.

Not to be outdone, David Peterson followed that outing up by going 4 scoreless innings while striking out 5 batters and allowing only 1 free pass. To say Buck Showalter has to be satisfied with the way both of these pitchers are stepping up for a shot at the fifth rotation spot has to be an understatement.

Mets pitchers David Peterson and Tylor Megill are in a full-blown competition for the last rotation spot

Unlike in years past, the Mets have solid depth built around potential injuries in the starting rotation, and both Tylor Megill as well as David Peterson more likely than not would be starting pitchers in any other starting rotation around the league right now. Now over the last two and a half weeks of Spring Training, we will have a competition to watch between both of these pitchers who are aiming to make the Opening Day roster as a starter.

It's tough to say who has a leg up on who at this point as they both are different pitchers, and each has proven successful at the Major League level in their own way. Moving forward their performances will be under a microscope by management and fans alike over their last couple of appearances this spring, as both of them now have an opportunity that nobody had envisioned coming into Spring Training.