Big leagues
Published June 16, 2024 at 6:11 am ET
After all, the Mets might now be wishing they had made Seth Lugo a starter.
The former Met became the American League’s first 10-game winner in the Royals’ 7-2 victory over the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Lugo (10-2) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings.
Seth Lugo earned his American League-leading 10th victory in the Royals’ 7-2 victory over the Dodgers. fake images
The 34-year-old right-hander, who also leads the American League in innings (97 ¹/₃) and is fifth in ERA (2.40), struck out four and walked one to join Philadelphia Ranger Suarez as the only pitchers in the majors. . with 10 victories.
“It feels great. I never got to 10 wins in the major leagues or the minors. I’ve been waiting for that,” said Lugo, who got a big offensive boost from MJ Melendez, who hit a grand slam in the fifth inning in a 12-pitch at-bat.
Lugo, who has a chance to be named an All-Star, outlasted Dodgers star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, whose start was cut short after two innings due to triceps tightness.
Lugo, who signed a three-year, $45 million contract (the third year is a player option) with the Royals this offseason, has already surpassed his previous record for wins.
Last season, Lugo went 8-7 with a 3.57 ERA in 146 ¹/₃ innings for the Padres in his first full-time season as a starter, but decided not to exercise the option in the second year of his contract with the club. . and he decided to be a free agent.
Lugo spent his first seven years with the Mets, primarily as a reliever.
He made 275 appearances (38 starts) for the club, pitching to a 3.48 ERA and making 16 saves to go along with a 32-24 record during that span.
Seth Lugo throws a pitch during the first inning of the Royals’ victory. KeynoteUSA Sports via KeynoteUSA With
Lugo has never been shy about his desire to be a starting pitcher, but the Mets kept him primarily in the bullpen after the 2017 season, during which he had a 4.71 ERA in 19 appearances (18 starts).
However, Lugo said last season that he had no ill will toward the Mets.
“No bitterness,” Lugo said. “The Mets treated me very well for a long time. Most of my adult life I wore a Mets uniform. Nothing but gratitude for the organization.”
He made seven starts during the COVID-impacted 2020 season, but was not a starter in 2019, ’21 or ’22.
Lugo had a 3.60 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 65 innings this year.
In retrospect, the Mets, who have been without injured ace Kodai Senga all season, would probably like to have an effective winner and innings-eater like Lugo in their rotation.
— with KeynoteUSA
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