Megill entered the seventh inning with a 7-1 lead and was allowed to start the inning despite at 92 pitches. He allowed a double and a single while getting one strikeout before being pulled from the game. Jose Butto would then allow that inherited runner to score in addition to three more runs before the Mets’ bullpen blew the game for good in the ninth. Megill posted a 28 percent whiff rate and 37 percent CSW and deserved a far better fate in this one. He’ll look to rebound in St. Louis next week.

Megill continued his dominance over the division-rival Phillies with his first double-digit strikeout performance since September 10, 2021. He struggled with his control, handing out four free passes, but managed to limit Philadelphia’s potent lineup to just one hit into the middle innings. He piled up 14 swinging strikes, with only three of those coming on his four-seam fastball and finished with a near-elite 38 percent CSW. The 29-year-old appears to be legitimately putting it together this season, allowing just seven runs — three earned — over his first five starts. There will be some pullback eventually from a run-prevention standpoint, but he’s been extremely impressive so far. He’ll carry a microscopic 1.09 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 30/11 K/BB ratio across 24 2/3 innings into a road matchup on Sunday against the Nationals.

The right-hander struck out three batters on the evening and didn’t allow a base on balls. The Twins touched him up for a pair of unearned runs in the third inning thanks to an error by Francisco Lindor. They then pushed single runs across in the fourth and fifth innings. Megill got six swings and misses on 95 pitches on the night, posting a CSW of just 18 percent. He’ll look to bounce back as he carries a 1.40 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 20/7 K/BB ratio (19 1/3 innings) into Sunday’s matchup against the Cardinals.

It’s rare to lose a game without giving up and earned run. Megill started this game with eight straight balls and it took him a whopping 51 pitches to get through the first two innings. He settled in some after that, but couldn’t navigate his way through the one, two, three inning he needed to taper down that pitch count He was eventually pulled with no outs in the fifth after throwing 90 pitches and a costly throwing error by Brett Baty on what could’ve been a double play. Still, Megill forced 16 swings-and-misses including nine with his fastball and struck out a season-high seven batters. It’s amazing how far Megill has come where he can be this erratic and still miss this many bats. If Baty makes that play, he easily could’ve gotten through another inning too. He’s scheduled for a two-start week coming up against the Twins and Cardinals.