Lugo has a 1.46 ERA through 12.1 innings (four starts) this spring in the Cactus League.
Lugo is going to get a chance to operate as a normal-functioning starter this season in San Diego, and he would seem to have the goods to deliver meaningful fantasy production in that role. The 33-year-old right-hander worked exclusively in relief over his final two seasons with the Mets and posted a combined 3.56 ERA with 124 strikeouts across 111.1 innings.
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Padres' Seth Lugo: To be part of six-man rotation
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Lugo is expected to open the season as part of the Padres' six-man rotation, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Lugo signed with the Padres with the intent of joining the rotation and that evidently won't change even after the club added Michael Wacha. The former Met hasn't started a game since 2020 and hasn't been a full-time starter since 2017, so it makes sense to ease him into things as part of a six-man rotation. Nick Martinez -- who made 37 relief appearances and 10 starts last season -- will also open 2023 in the rotation. The Padres could eventually go back to a traditional five-man setup, but initially each starter will get extra rest in between outings.
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Padres' Seth Lugo: Signs with Padres
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Lugo agreed to a one-year, $7.5 million deal with the Padres on Monday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Lugo's deal includes a $7.5 million player option for 2024 and also contains incentives for starting and relieving, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. Heading into spring, the Padres are expected to have Lugo build up as a starter, but it's easy to imagine him shifting to the bullpen at some point like Nick Martinez did in 2022. While working exclusively in relief for the Mets a season ago, Lugo posted a 3.60 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 69:18 K:BB in 65 innings.Having not started games since 2020, the righty figures to be on somewhat of an innings limit early in 2023 if he becomes a fixture in the San Diego rotation.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Scoops up second win of 2022
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Lugo struck out three and allowed one hit over 1.2 scoreless innings to pick up the win Wednesday in the Mets' 3-2 victory over the Yankees.
Lugo has seen his effectiveness diminish since he was a dominant late-inning reliever for the Mets in 2019, but the right-hander looked as sharp Wednesday as he had been at any point this season. After recording five crucial outs to keep the score tied heading into the bottom of the ninth, Lugo was rewarded with the win when Starling Marte walked off the Yankees with an RBI single.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Stuck with loss Tuesday
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Lugo (1-2) took the loss Tuesday as the Mets fell 1-0 to the Reds, giving up one run on one hit and two walks in one-third of an inning.
The right-hander entered a scoreless tie in the ninth inning but couldn't find the plate, tossing only eight of 17 pitches for strikes before Mike Moustakas launched a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to seal Cincinnati's win. Lugo was pitching on the second consecutive day with Edwin Diaz being held back for a potential save situation on the road, and that's a scenario Mets manager Buck Showalter may want to avoid in the future -- Lugo has made appearances on back-to-back days five times this season, and in the second game of those sets he's coughed up five runs in 4.1 innings.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Notches third save
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Lugo gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Monday to record his third save of the season in a 7-4 win over the Reds.
Edwin Diaz had pitched the day before and on two of the last three days, so manager Buck Showalter elected to give his closer a breather and let Lugo wrap things up instead. The 32-year-old Lugo has been scored upon only twice in his last 14 appearances dating back to May 21, posting a 2.20 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 15:2 K:BB over 16.1 innings during that stretch with a win, a save and five holds.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Officially reinstated
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Lugo was reinstated from the paternity list Thursday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Lugo has been away from the team since Monday for the birth of his child and was expected back in time for the team's weekend series against the Marlins. Now that he's officially back, Lugo should return to a setup role, working in front of Edwin Diaz. On the season, Lugo has maintained a 3.81 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 27:7 K:BB across 28.1 innings.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Due back Friday
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Mets manager Buck Showalter said he expects Lugo (personal) to be activated from the paternity list prior to Friday's game in Miami, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
After being placed on the list Monday, Lugo will be away from the team for a third straight game Wednesday in Houston while he spends time with his wife and newborn child. Since players on the paternity list can spend a maximum of three days away from their teams, Lugo will likely be formally activated Thursday, which is an off day for the Mets.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Goes on paternity leave
Rotowire
The Mets placed Lugo on the paternity list Monday.
He'll be away from the Mets for their next 1-to-3 games while he observes the birth of his child. The time away could allow Lugo to get a chance to mentally reset after he was charged with two blown saves over his last five appearances out of the bullpen. The right-hander still maintains decent ratios for the season (3.81 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 16.9 K-BB%), so he'll be locked into a key setup role in front of closer Edwin Diaz once he rejoins the Mets.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Picks up hold No. 10
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Lugo walked one and struck out one over 1.1 scoreless innings Sunday to record his 10th hold of the season in a win over the Angels.
The right-hander hasn't been dominant this season, but he has been a fairly reliable bridge to closer Edwin Diaz. Lugo sports a 3.51 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 23:6 K:BB through 25.2 innings, adding one win and two saves to his holds total through 25 appearances.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Collects second save
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Lugo gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his second save of the season in the second game of a doubleheader sweep of Atlanta.
Edwin Diaz notched the save in the matinee while Adam Ottavino picked up a hold, leaving closing duties in the nightcap to Lugo. Lugo has reeled off six straight scoreless appearances, lowering his ERA to 3.48 and his WHIP to 1.35, and he also has four holds in addition to his pair of saves from his 11 appearances. The 32-year-old remains one of the Mets' primary setup options, but should anything happen to Diaz, Lugo would likely step into the closer role.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Registers first save
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Lugo saved a 6-5 victory over Arizona on Friday, allowing one walk with two strikeouts in the 10th inning.
After closer Edwin Diaz faltered in the ninth inning, Lugo was brought in for the 10th, when New York took the lead and delivered with a quick and easy inning. He appears locked into the setup role despite a high 5.68 ERA, which is mostly the result of one poor outing.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Blows save Monday
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Lugo (0-1) blew the save and took the loss as the Mets fell 5-4 to the Phillies on Monday, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk while recording only one out.
The veteran reliever was one of three Mets arms to work a disastrous bottom of the eighth that began with Trevor May (arm) issuing a leadoff walk before Joely Rodriguez poured more fuel on the fire. By the time Lugo entered the game, a 4-0 lead had shrunk to 4-3, giving him no margin for error when his outing started with a walk to Nick Castellanos and back-to-back doubles by Rhys Hoskins and Didi Gregorius. There's no word on when Edwin Diaz (personal) might rejoin the team, but it seems likely Adam Ottavino will get the Mets' next save chance if it comes before the closer is back.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Signs with Mets for 2022
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Lugo agreed to a one-year, $3.925 million contract with the Mets on Tuesday to avoid arbitration, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Lugo will receive a $1 million raise from last season after recording one save and 13 holds with a 3.50 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 55:19 K:BB over 46.1 innings. The veteran right-hander figures to be a key bullpen piece again for the Mets in 2022.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Snags second win
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Lugo (2-1) picked up the win in Monday's 4-2 victory over the Brewers after striking out two in a perfect seventh inning.
The right-hander fired nine of his 11 pitches for strikes while carving up Milwaukee's 5-6-7 hitters, and Lugo was rewarded for his efforts when New York took the lead in the bottom of the frame. He's been his usual stalwart self since recovering from offseason elbow surgery, as Lugo has five holds and a save in 15 appearances with a 2.40 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB through 15 innings.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Takes first loss Thursday
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Lugo (1-1) gave up one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out one across two-thirds of an inning, taking the loss to Atlanta on Thursday.
Lugo retired just two batters and allowed Freddie Freeman to walk it off in the ninth inning on a single. He has allowed just four runs all season for a 2.77 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP in 13 innings. It's the third time this season he's been scored upon in 13 outings.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Earns first win
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Lugo (1-0) gave up no hits and a walk while striking out three in a scoreless eighth inning to earn the win over the Phillies in the first game of Friday's doubleheader.
Lugo gave up his first runs since his season debut during his last appearance, but he put up another scoreless outing to earn his first win of the year in Friday's matinee. He's held the opposition scoreless in eight of his first 10 games since he returned from the injured list, and he's posted a 2.61 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 10.1 innings. The right-hander has served mainly as a setup man for closer Edwin Diaz.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Picks up first save
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Lugo earned the save Tuesday after tossing two scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out three.
With Edwin Diaz unavailable after pitching three of the last four games, Lugo came in to close out a one-run ballgame. He retired the side in the eighth, including a pair of strikeouts. After returning for the ninth, the right-hander worked around a pair of singles and a walk to finish off the win for the Mets, tossing 37 pitches in the process. Across six appearances this year, Lugo has compiled a 1.17 ERA and 1.17 WHIP.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Activated from IL
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The Mets reinstated Lugo (elbow) from the 60-day injured list ahead of Monday's game against the Diamondbacks.
New York optioned Sean Reid-Foley to Triple-A Syracuse to open up a spot in the bullpen for Lugo, who was one of three Mets to return from the IL for Monday's series opener. Lugo finished last season in a starting role for the Mets, but he'll likely serve as a late-inning, multi-inning option in 2021 now that he's made a recovery from February surgery to remove a loose body from his elbow. Over his four rehab outings at Triple-A prior to being activated, Lugo gave up three runs (one earned) while striking out five in 4.1 innings.
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Mets' Seth Lugo: Returning Monday
Rotowire
Lugo (elbow) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Lugo was expected to return early in the week, and manager Luis Rojas confirmed Saturday that the right-hander will be reinstated when he's first eligible. Lugo underwent surgery to remove a loose body from his right elbow in mid-February but should be available to make his season debut in Monday's series opener in Arizona. Rojas clarified that Lugo's reinstatement could be pushed back due to weather conditions, but the team currently plans to have him back Monday.
