Megill may step in with Quintana out

With the Mets’ starting rotation sustaining its first injury of spring training, the team got a good performance from a possible replacement who could land himself in the starting staff at the beginning of the season.

Tylor Megill followed up a solid spring debut with another promising outing in the Mets’ 5-5 tie against the Astros. The righty allowed just one hit and two walks in 2.1 innings on Tuesday night. He struck out three.

Megill’s outing comes a day after the Mets learned starter Jose Quintana suffered a stress fracture in his rib and would be sent to New York for more imaging. The team will have to wait a bit longer for those results as the Colombian’s flight to New York was canceled Tuesday.

Quintana pulled himself out of the World Baseball Classic and the Mets didn’t provide a timetable for return. Quintana said on Instagram that he is trying to be ready for the start of the season but it’s likely he won’t be, giving Megill a shot at opening the season in the starting rotation.

Megill wouldn’t get the start on Opening Day like last season — as long as Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer stay healthy — but could fill in the fifth spot if Quintana isn’t able to pitch.

Left-hander Joey Lucchesi is a possible replacement as well, but his spring debut didn’t go well on Tuesday. The lefty struggled with his command, allowing two fourpitch walks, a hit and one run in an inning of work.

David Peterson is Megill’s biggest competition for the role. Peterson is listed as day-to-day, avoiding major injury after getting hit with a comebacker in Saturday’s Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.

The 27-year-old pitched two hitless innings in that game, recording a strikeout and two walks.

Prospect Ronny Mauricio continues to draw attention. The Mets’ sixth-ranked prospect hit a single on the first pitch he saw and drove in two runs in the seventh inning. Mauricio did strike out in the ninth inning.

The 21-year-old is hitting .400 in 15 at-bats, with three homers and 7 RBI.

Prospect Brett Baty made a few nice defensive plays at third base, fielding a grounder in foul territory and delivering an accurate throw to first. Baty followed that up in the eighth inning by fielding a slow roller and delivering another strike to first base.