In a much-needed ray of hope for the New York Mets, Tylor Megill and Francisco Alvarez delivered standout performances in a doubleheader sweep against the playoff-bound Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night at Citi Field.

The Mets, who are eager to put the forgettable 2023 season behind them, found solace in the impressive outings of Megill and Alvarez. While the Phillies had little at stake in the games, locked into the top wild-card spot in the National League, the Mets were grateful for any silver lining they could get.

In the first game, Megill took the mound and showcased his potential as a young starter in the Mets' rotation. The right-hander notched a career-high 7 1/3 innings, holding the Phillies scoreless until the eighth. Megill's standout moment came when he introduced a split-fingered fastball, a pitch he had been experimenting with since spring training. Inspired by the success of Kodai Senga's ghost fork, which has dominated the majors, Megill decided to give it a shot. "You watch him go out there and throw it, they know it's coming and the swings he has [against it], why not try to implement that?" Megill said. He humorously referred to his pitch as the "American Spork," likening it to an off-brand version. The young hurler expressed his intention to add it to his repertoire in the upcoming season.

The second game belonged to Francisco Alvarez, who broke out of a 0-for-23 slump in spectacular fashion. The 20-year-old catcher hammered two home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in a career-high six RBIs. His offensive explosion provided a much-needed boost for the Mets, who have struggled to find consistent production throughout the season. Alvarez now boasts an impressive 25 home runs on the year, a testament to his immense talent and potential as a future star.

However, the night wasn't without its scares for the Mets. In the first game, slugger Pete Alonso took a frightening blow to the helmet when he was hit by a pitch from Taijuan Walker. The impact was so severe that it broke the flap off Alonso's helmet. Despite the scare, Alonso bravely stayed in the game and even served as the designated hitter in the second game. This incident marked the 21st time Alonso has been hit by a pitch this season, making him second only to Seattle's Ty France, who holds the record with 34 hit-by-pitches.

While the Mets' postseason hopes have long vanished, the performances of Megill and Alvarez offer a glimmer of hope for next season. The young starters, whom the Mets had high expectations for, finally displayed their true potential. However, their emergence may have come a little too late for the Mets to salvage this season. Nonetheless, the team remains optimistic about their future and is determined to build a competitive roster for the upcoming year.