3 Mets players who will be fighting for an Opening Day roster spot

3. Mets starting pitcher Tylor Megill

The surprise of the 2021 season was the emergence of Tylor Megill. The eighth-round pick in the 2018 draft went from having just one career start at the AA level entering the 2021 campaign to making 18 starts for the Mets. This was due to the abundance of injuries the Mets had to deal with in the rotation, but Megill clearly showed that he had earned a shot.

Megill was awfully similar to David Peterson in regards to being forced onto the Major League team when he wasn't expected to be and producing at a high level. However, I believe Megill has a much higher ceiling and is a better pitcher than Peterson right now.

Megill went 4-6 with a 4.52 ERA in his 18 starts last season. He had a 2.7 BB/9 and a 9.9 K/9. He had very good stuff and solid control as well. Megill's big Achillies heel is the home run ball, as he allowed 1.9 HR/9, a number which is way too high. However, I believe with more experience that can be improved upon.

I believe Megill's 4.52 ERA doesn't replicate how well he pitched. When he first came up, he looked like a legitimate MLB pitcher. He had a 3.21 ERA in his first 11 starts. Those starts included a three-start span in which he allowed just one run in 17.1 innings pitched. Those starts included a start against the high-powered Blue Jays and the World Series-winning Braves. Megill had a 1.04 ERA in his five May starts.

I believe down the stretch Megill was exhausted. He had never thrown more than 71.2 innings in a season in his professional career. This past season he pitched 130 innings combining his eight Minor League starts and 18 Major League starts.

With a full season coming in 2022, I expect Megill to be able to withstand a larger workload better. However, I don't expect him to start in the majors. I expect the Mets to sign a veteran to take the fifth starter job, leaving Megill as an obvious candidate to go down to AAA. I believe he'll be more effective there than if he was in the bullpen and wasn't stretched out. There will still be opportunity for him to start games for the Mets sometime.

If the Mets for some reason don't sign another starter, I would hope they give Megill that fifth starter job, I just can't see that happening unfortunately.