As the Mets’ season crumbles before their eyes, so does their pitching.
A rotation that was once among the best in baseball has fallen apart because of injuries and underperformance, leaving the Mets fading in the NL playoff picture.
In the latest crushing blow, right-hander Tylor Megill underwent Tommy John surgery Monday, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced prior to Tuesday’s game against the Cubs.
Megill went 5-5 with a 3.95 ERA in 14 starts this season, striking out 89 in 68.1 innings.
“You feel for the individual,” Mendoza said, via ESPN. “It’s going to be a while before he takes the mound again. Wishing him a speedy recovery.”
Tylor Megill Has Been on the IL Since June
Megill hasn’t pitched since June 14 against the Rays, when he allowed six runs (three earned) and seven hits over 3.2 innings. He landed on the 15-day injured list on June 17 with a right elbow sprain and was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 8.
Megill appeared to be working his way back into the Mets’ plans, only to report tightness in his elbow after his last rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse on Sept. 7. A similar issue arose in June, after which an MRI found inflammation in the elbow but no structural damage.
This time around, Megill wasn’t as fortunate. The Athletic’s Tim Britton reported last week that Tommy John surgery had been recommended.
Pitching Has Been Culprit in Mets’ Late-Season Swoon
Mendoza said he was unsure whether Megill underwent the standard Tommy John procedure, which typically sidelines pitchers for 12 to 18 months, or the internal brace version, which has a much quicker recovery time of six to eight months. Either way, Megill, who is under team control through for more seasons, is likely to miss most, if not all, of 2026.
It’s an unfortunate injury for Megill and the Mets, who had hoped to reincorporate him into their plans as they push for a playoff spot.
“We’ll miss him, especially when you’re talking about the depth,” Mendoza said, via the NY Daily News. “So it’s unfortunate. Our job is to now get him back on the field as quickly as possible.”
The Mets, who are just 35-52 over their last 87 games, entered a critical three-game series against the Cubs tied with the Reds for the last NL wild card spot at 80-76. Cincinnati owns the tiebreaker.
Kodai Senga was demoted to Triple-A, while All-Star David Peterson has a 7.63 ERA in three September starts. Two other starters, Clay Holmes and Sean Manaea, are now being used in bulk roles.
Through it all, rookie Nolan McLean has burst onto the scene to become the Mets’ most reliable arm. Over his first seven starts, the 24-year-old is 4-1 with a 1.27 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 42.2 innings.
Mets Lose Key Pitcher to Tommy John Surgery