PITTSBURGH — The Mets could use an entire medicine cabinet to remedy their pitching staff, but for now they will try one Pill.
Make that Tyler Pill, a 26-year-old righty who was selected from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday to give the Mets an insurance policy in the bullpen, but also a potential starter for Tuesday.
The move came a day after Rafael Montero flopped in a spot start, throwing 87 pitches over three innings in which he allowed three runs against the Padres, forcing manager Terry Collins to overextend his bullpen.
Montero was optioned to Las Vegas to clear space for Pill, who was 3-1 with a 1.96 ERA in seven starts at Triple-A after beginning the season at Double-A Binghamton.
Pill lacks an overpowering fastball, falling into the mold of former Mets pitcher Dillon Gee, according to pitching coach Dan Warthen.
“The big thing for [Pill], he’s a 50-50 guy in my opinion,” Las Vegas pitching coach Frank Viola said. “He’s got to be 50 percent fastball and 50 percent secondary pitches. He’s got to use all four pitches to be successful.”
Pill, the Mets’ fourth pick in the 2011 draft out of Cal State Fullerton, struggled in two previous stints at Las Vegas, but has become more aggressive this season, according to Viola.
“Every time he came up, he couldn’t break that wall between Double-A and Triple-A,” Viola said. “He put himself in a position where he was ball one, ball two, he was nitpicking, and that ball was just an inch off the plate. Now this year he’s come in and that ball is an inch on the plate. It was the first time I have just seen him say, ‘I am going to go after them right now.’ ”
“The biggest difference I’ve seen is he’s pounding the hell out of the inside corner. Hitters for the first time seem very uncomfortable at the plate.”
Mets officials were hesitant to promote Pill because of his underwhelming fastball, but also acknowledged his strong numbers in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, where many pitchers, even with dominant stuff, have floundered.
“A lot of strikes,” Pill said, when asked to describe his pitching philosophy. “Try to get ahead early to where it forces the hitter to be defensive and try to pick a pitch that is not really his.
“It’s a way of just keeping the batter consistently guessing so he’s not ever comfortable and can’t guess what pitch is coming or get a good feel in the box.”
If Pill gets the start Tuesday, it might be for just one turn in the rotation, as Steven Matz and Seth Lugo move closer to returning from the disabled list. Both are scheduled for rehab starts Sunday, for Las Vegas and Binghamton, respectively, after which they could be ticketed for the major leagues.
Viola, who worked with Pill at Single-A Savannah in 2012, said the right-hander is capable of helping the Mets.
“Nothing would surprise me right now with the confidence he’s taking to the mound,” Viola said. “This is the Tyler Pill I saw when he first got drafted out of Cal State Fullerton.”