The Mets may now be regretting that they should have kept Seth Lugo in the starting rotation after all.
The former Mets pitcher became the first American League pitcher to win 10 straight games in the Royals’ 7-2 victory over the Dodgers on Saturday in Los Angeles.
Lugo (10-2) gave up two runs and six hits in six innings.
The 34-year-old right-hander also led the AL in innings pitched (97 ¹/₃) and is fifth in ERA (2.40). With four strikeouts and one walk, he joined the Philadelphia Rangers’ Suarez as the only pitchers with 10 major league wins.
“It feels great. I’ve never won 10 games in the major leagues or minor leagues. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” said Lugo, whose offense got a big boost from MJ Melendez, who hit a grand slam off 12 pitches in the fifth inning.
Lugo, a potential All-Star, pitched longer than Dodgers star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was pulled from the start after two innings because of a tight triceps.
Lugo signed a three-year, $45 million contract (with a player option for the third year) with the Royals this offseason and has already surpassed his previous win record.
Last season, Lugo went 8-7 with a 3.57 ERA in 146¹/₃ innings in his first full season as a starter, but decided not to exercise his option on the second year of his contract and become a free agent.
Lugo spent his first seven seasons with the Mets primarily as a relief pitcher.
He appeared in 275 games (38 starts) with the team, posting a 3.48 ERA and 16 saves while compiling a 32-24 record in that span.
Though Lugo never hid his desire to be a starter, the Mets kept him primarily as a reliever after the 2017 season, when he appeared in 19 games (18 starts) and posted a 4.71 ERA.
However, Lugo said he bore no ill will toward the Mets last season.
“I hold no grudges,” Lugo said. “The Mets have been great to me over the years. I’ve spent most of my adult life in a Mets uniform. I have nothing but gratitude for this organization.”
He played in seven games during the COVID-affected 2020 season but did not play in 2019, 2021 or 2022.
Lugo has a 3.60 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 65 innings this year.
Looking back, the Mets, who have been without ace pitcher Kodai Senga all season due to injury, would likely like to add an effective winner and innings eater like Lugo to their starting rotation.
— The Associated Press
