The New York Mets can forget re-inserting Tylor Megill into their plans anytime soon.
The 30-year-old right-hander has been shut down again after experiencing a setback during a rehab appearance on Sunday with Triple-A Syracuse.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters prior to Tuesdayâs game against the Phillies that Megill, who has been on the injured list since June 17 with a sprained right elbow, was headed back to New York for imaging.
Regardless of what tests show, Mendoza acknowledged Megill is running out of time to help the Mets this season.
âWeâre running out of time, especially now with him complaining about the same thing that he went down with earlier in the year,â Mendoza said, via SNY.
With 18 games remaining, the Mets (76-68) are clinging to a three-game lead over the Giants for the final NL wild card spot.
Megill Experienced Elbow Soreness
In Sundayâs start at Triple-A, Megill labored through two innings, allowing four hits, five earned runs, and two walks while also hitting two batters. He threw 65 pitches.
Of particular concern to the Mets, Megill felt tightness in his elbow while throwing his secondary pitches. A similar issue popped up in June, after which an MRI found inflammation in the elbow but no structural damage.
While Megillâs overall numbers are respectable, heâd struggled prior to the injury. He last pitched June 14 against the Rays, allowing six runs (three earned) and seven hits over 3.2 innings. His ERA in three June starts was 5.52.
In six rehab starts between Double-A and Triple-A, Megill sported a 4.95 ERA to go with 29 strikeouts and 10 walks across 20 innings.
Metsâ Pitching Remains a Big Concern
The Mets had hoped to re-incorporate Megill into their plans, likely in the bullpen.
As they fight to hold onto a playoff spot, their pitching staff remains a major concern. All-Star David Peterson and Sean Manaea had ERAs of 6.68 and 7.13, respectively, in August, and Kodai Senga was demoted to Triple-A last week.
Their struggles led to the Mets calling up a trio of prized pitching prospects: Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat. The trio’s emergence raised the possibility of Megill returning as a bulk reliever, where his upper 90s fastball could have played up in a shorter stint.
Instead, it appears increasingly unlikely that Megill, who has a 3.95 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 68.1 innings, returns in any capacity.
Montas to Undergo Surgery
In other pitching news, the New York Post reported that right-hander Frankie Montas was slated to undergo Tommy John surgery Tuesday on his elbow, likely tabling him until 2027.
Montas, who signed a two-year, $34 million contract in December, had a 6.38 ERA in eight appearances â including one as a bulk reliever â before being moved permanently to the bullpen last month.
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