Rehabbing Megill on brink of throwing off mound
SAN FRANCISCO — Tylor Megill’s rehab could take a significant step this weekend.
As the right-hander continues to play catch on flat ground, the Mets are hopeful he can begin throwing from a mound once the team returns home from this trip, according to pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.
Megill has been on the injured list since May 15 with right biceps inflammation. Once he begins throwing from a mound, the Mets can start considering a potential minor league rehab assignment for Megill.
“It’s definitely trending in the right way with Tylor,” Hefner said.
➤ Jacob deGrom is still throwing from flat ground, according to Hefner, and is behind Megill in his schedule (although his rehab will soon shift from Port St. Lucie to New York). DeGrom, who is rehabbing a stress reaction in his right scapula, hasn’t thrown from a mound since spring training.
➤ J.D. Davis’ four-hit performance Monday night wasn’t enough to keep him in the lineup, as manager Buck Showalter started Dominic Smith at designated hitter against Giants right-hander Logan Webb. The struggling Smith entered Tuesday with a .189/ .274/.243 slash line with 11 RBIs.
➤ Showalter wasn’t prepared to officially name Thomas Szapucki as the starting pitcher for the series finale Wednesday afternoon, but the manager is leaning heavily in that direction.
Szapucki, who has been with the team since Monday, owns a 2.86 ERA in seven appearances for Triple-A Syracuse. Last year, he pitched 3 2/3 innings in relief for the Mets before he underwent ulnar nerve transposition surgery that ended his season.
“He’s always had a good arm, it’s just a matter of staying healthy,” Showalter said. “If he gets an opportunity we hope it’s the start of something good, because he’s got the ability.” ➤ The Mets’ June 12 game at Anaheim has been picked up by ESPN for “Sunday Night Baseball” and will start at 7:08 p.m. The Mets are also the Sunday night game this weekend against the Phillies.
➤ The Mets’ 29-15 record entering Tuesday was the fourth-best mark after 44 games in franchise history. Only the 1988 (31-13), 1986 (31-13) and 1972 (31-13) teams were better.