Seth Lugo doesn’t know yet whether he will head back to the bullpen or stay in the Mets’ rotation, but his spot start Thursday night certainly left a good impression.
After spending the first two months of the season emerging as a valuable relief weapon, Lugo made his starting debut Thursday and tossed four scoreless innings before the Mets’ bullpen got tagged in a 5-1 loss to the Cubs at Citi Field.
“I think [Lugo] was really good,” manager Mickey Callaway said.
Filling in for Jason Vargas, who pitched on short rest Tuesday in place of the injured Noah Syndergaard, Lugo gave the Mets exactly what Callaway had hoped for: four innings and 60 pitches, allowing three hits and striking out three while pitching on two days’ rest.