Eppler was quick to say that the Mets won’t look to bring an arm from outside the organization to fill the rotation, so it’ll be up to him and manager Buck Showalter to figure out who that someone is. And it seems like the candidates are the trio Eppler mentioned.

“We’ll get our arms around it now that we know what we’re dealing with,” Showalter said after Friday’s game. “We put ourselves in position with all those guys to go into different directions, including the four starters other than Jake. We’re able to do some maneuvering now, we knew that was going to be a possibility that’s why we set it up like we did.”

In his rookie season, Megill started 18 games (4-6) for the Mets and posted a 4.52 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He’s had just two spring training appearances so far this year where he pitched 6.2 innings, walking five, striking out seven and not giving up a run.

Peterson, in his two seasons with the Mets, has posted an 8-8 record in 33 starts with a 4.64 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. In spring training this year, he’s appeared in two games, started one, and has been roughed up a bit. He’s pitched 6.2 innings, but has given up six earned runs.

Before Friday’s game, Showalter was asked specifically about Megill and Peterson and the skipper had only great things to say about his two young pitchers.

“Good as advertised,” Showalter said. “They’re both stretched out to five innings. They’re everything that I was told about them and more.”

Williams, the veteran of the trio, pitched for the Mets last season. He appeared in 10 games (started three) and posted a 4.35 ERA. So far this spring, he’s appeared in one game where he pitched two innings and has only given up one walk.

The Mets won’t necessarily have to make a decision on a fifth starter soon. Their first game isn’t until April 7, which will likely be pitched by Max Scherzer, followed by Chris Bassitt, Taijuan Walker and Carlos Carrassco in some order before the fifth starter sees action.

However, with just three spring training games remaining the Mets may want to use that time to put their possible starters to the test so they can be ready for the regular season. Who is that starter? It's unclear if even Eppler and Buck know, but they have options and that's something.

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