Tylor Megill's Mets heroism goes beyond playoff win

ATLANTA — Tylor Megill gave the Mets a chance in the biggest start of his major league career, and that was good enough.

The right-hander capped a solid final month of the regular season since returning from the minor leagues, allowing three earned runs over 5 2/3 innings on Monday in the team's wild 8-7 victory over the Braves in Game 1 of a doubleheader that gave the Mets a postseason spot.

Megill was selected as the pitcher for the first game because it allowed the Mets to save Luis Severino for the wild card series opener should the team win in the first game.

Mission accomplished as Severino will now get the ball on Tuesday.

Megill endured heavy traffic early and allowed a two-run home run to Ozzie Albies in the third to give the Mets a 2-0 lead.

Megill allowed two more hits in the inning but escaped.

Ramon Laureano hit a home run against Megill in the sixth.

Joey Lucchesi was selected from Triple-A Syracuse to start the nightcap of the doubleheader. This came at the expense of reserve player Alex Young, who was optioned to the minors – meaning he cannot be recalled for 15 days.

To add Lucchesi to the 40-man roster, the Mets placed Christian Scott on the 60-day injured list.

The Mets got everything they could want from Lucchesi, who absorbed six innings and allowed one earned run in a 3-0 loss to the Braves.

The left-hander threw 111 pitches, minimizing exposure to the Mets' bullpen: Huascar Brazoban and Adam Ottavino split the final two innings (both also appeared in the first game).

That leaves the Mets with Jose Butto, Reed Garrett and Ryne Stanek among the rested replacements for Game 1 against the Brewers.

The Mets must finalize a 26-player Wild Card Series roster.

The Mets were at 28 at the end of the regular season, but Eddy Alvarez is ineligible for the postseason as a player acquired in a trade after September 1st.

It also seems unlikely that there will be a role for Lucchesi.

Brett Baty was among the players in the Mets clubhouse who attended the wild card winners celebration.

Baty spent most of the season at Syracuse and was a candidate for the big league roster in September before breaking his index finger. He returned to the Syracuse lineup toward the end of the season.