Mets’ rotation all set after final decision
JUPITER, Fla. — Carlos Mendoza’s first difficult decision was handed down Wednesday morning before the Mets’ spring training contest with the Marlins.
The first-year Mets manager announced that righthander Tylor Megill would be included on the Opening Day roster, while Jose Butto was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Kodai Senga’s shoulder injury in late February opened a gap in the Mets’ starting rotation, and now Megill will fill into the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation
“(Megill) showed up in really good shape. He was already throwing live BP. Credit to him that the way he approached his offseason and how he prepared,” Mendoza said. “He was working on new pitches and all of that, but he came ready to go, just like Butto did.
“The outings, the way he threw the baseball, how he was bouncing back, and this is a guy that’s done it. He’s got a little bit more experience than Butto, and we decided to go that route.”
Tylor Megill vs. Jose Butto
Both Megill and Butto have turned in strong performances this spring, making Mendoza’s decision all the more tough.
In five appearances this spring, Megill, 28, has posted a 1-2 record with a 3.45 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 16 strikeouts in 15.2 innings. He allowed two earned runs in his first 12 innings before being tagged for four earned runs across 3.2 innings against the Nationals on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Butto, 26, has allowed one earned run across 10 innings (0.90 ERA) in four Grapefruit League appearances. He struck out nine and allowed six hits and two walks. Mendoza says he believes Butto will “pitch a lot” for the Mets and be under immediate consideration when they need to use a sixth starter.
“We’ve been saying that we were gonna be facing some tough conversations and this morning we had one with Butto, because of the way he’s been throwing the ball, how he prepared, the way he goes about his business, how good of a teammate (he is),” Mendoza said. “He basically did everything that we asked him to do and that’s why it’s one of those where it was a tough one.”
Jose Quintana leads Mets rotation
With Senga still not throwing, Mendoza had already determined that veteran left-hander Jose Quintana would be the team’s Opening Day starter.
It will be Quintana’s second Opening Day start of his career.
The Mets manager announced Wednesday that Luis Severino would be slotting into the Mets’ No. 2 role, meaning his first start would come March 30 against the Brewers at Citi Field.
Newcomers Sean Manaea, who allowed one earned run across five innings with six strikeouts in his last outing against the Cardinals on Tuesday, and Adrian Houser, who last pitched on March 15 against the Nationals, will round out the Mets’ rotation.
Mets projected 2024 starting rotation
1 Jose Quintana, LHP
2 Luis Severino, RHP
3 Sean Manaea, LHP
4 Adrian Houser, RHP
5 Tylor Megill, RHP