It’s nearly like clockwork. Each April, Tylor Megill is lights-out by way of the month of April, however as soon as the calendar turns to Might, the right-hander turns into a special pitcher.
It wasn’t precisely the worst begin for Megill on Saturday night time in opposition to the Chicago Cubs, however he didn’t precisely appear like he did in April within the Mets’ 6-5 loss. Megill gave up 4 runs earned for the second straight outing, failing to make it by way of 5 full innings.
The Mets may have stored him within the sport longer since he had solely thrown 77 pitches, however Brett Baty had simply reduce the deficit to at least one run with a three-run homer within the backside of the fourth, his first of two house runs on the nighty, and Mets had two rested lengthy relievers. They went with right-hander Huascar Brazobán, who obtained the subsequent 5 outs to provide the Mets an opportunity to come back again within the sport.
Twice, Baty introduced the Mets again to inside one run, drilling a three-run shot off of rookie right-hander Cade Horton within the fourth to chop it to 4-3. Then with a two-run, opposite-field blast within the backside of the eighth to make it 6-5.
“The last 10 games when he was up here, there was confidence,” stated supervisor Carlos Mendoza. “He was attacking his pitches, placing the barrel on the ball, utilizing the entire discipline. He went right down to Triple-A for slightly bit, and since he’s been again, it’s the identical factor. Conviction along with his swing selections, driving the ball to all fields, even with two strikes, staying brief in opposition to the lefty at the moment…
“There’s a lot to like right now.”
Baty has hit 4 house runs in his final 4 video games, going again to April 23 earlier than the Mets needed to choice him to Triple-A to make room on the roster for Jeff McNeil. The Mets see a hitter who’s on time for fastballs, however not somebody who isn’t ready on a fastball. The 25-year-old infielder has been aggressive on the plate and making loads of arduous contact when he will get a pitch he is aware of he can drive.
“I think it’s just preparation,” Baty stated. “These past couple days, I’ve just been trying to challenge myself in the cages, and I think that’s translated a little bit on the field. Not necessarily making the game easier, but like, making it really hard in the cage, so that I go out with my best approach to the game.”
Edwin Diaz blanked the Cubs within the high of the ninth to help with the comeback effort, however in the end it fell brief. Although it was no fault of Baty. The Mets (25-15) by no means obtained the large hit they wanted.
Cubs nearer Porter Hodge obtained a double play after pinch-hitter Jeff McNeil drew a stroll to guide off the ninth, and Juan Soto hit a floor ball proper to the second baseman. It was a comparatively straightforward save for Hodge (two).
“You’ve got to give them credit,” Mendoza stated. “They win a bullpen game, pretty much. And you know, when you’re trying to put together a game plan and all that, you’ve got to find a way.”
Proper-hander Brad Keller labored because the opener for the Cubs and Horton then made his MLB debut within the second inning. The seventh total draft decide in 2022, the Cubs’ high pitching prospect impressed. He stored the Mets off steadiness utilizing all 4 pitches, going 4 innings and hanging out 5 to earn the win (1-0).
The 23-year-old struck out the primary batter he confronted, Brandon Nimmo, and retired the facet so as in his first large league inning. The Mets put two runners on within the third inning, their first two of the sport, when Francisco Alvarez was hit on the wrist with a pitch and Francisco Lindor reached on catcher’s interference. Horton obtained Soto to roll over on a curveball to strand them each.
Down 4-0 within the backside of the fourth, Baty hit his first house run, taking a 1-1 sweeper over the left-center discipline fence with two outs.
The NL Central-best Cubs (23-17) scored twice within the first to take an early lead. Megill struggled along with his command, placing the primary three batters on earlier than getting an out. The Cubs have been aggressive, swinging early and sometimes. They managed to remove Megill’s sinker, a vital pitch for him. He altered course later within the sport, utilizing his four-seam fastball to get swings and misses, which helped him by way of the center innings.
Once more, Megill obtained into hassle within the third, giving up a leadoff double to Seiya Suzuki and an RBI single to Michael Busch. Dansby Swanson hit a leadoff homer within the high of the fourth to make it 4-0. Megill went 4 2/3 innings, permitting 4 earned runs on seven hits, hanging out seven and strolling two within the loss (3-3).
“Mis-pitched over to Swanson on the 1-2 [fastball],” Megill stated. “Just trying to go down and away, but shot it up right in his little hot spot. Just overshot it. But after that kind of switched the game playing around and had success.”
The sequence is even, 1-1, and can conclude Sunday afternoon with right-hander Griffin Canning dealing with left-hander Matthew Boyd.
Initially Revealed: Might 10, 2025 at 10:32 PM EDT
