After missing nearly two weeks with a bout of right-shoulder tendinitis, New York Mets reliever Seth Lugo returned to the field in Friday night’s 5-4 win over Arizona.
Before the game (via Mike Puma of the New York Post), Mets skipper Mickey Callaway stressed the importance of the 29-year-old’s presence in the bullpen — not just for the team’s benefit, but for his fellow relievers.
“[Seth Lugo’s return] will allow guys to get into a role that we feel they are assigned […] So just depth-wise, it will help us […], including [Edwin Diaz], who pitches behind Lugo. It’s going to be helpful.”
On a night when Diaz’ services weren’t at Callaway’s disposal, Lugo got the ball with a newly-minted lead (the Mets went ahead 5-4 in the top half of the eighth). After setting down Ketel Marte, Eduardo Escobar laced a triple into center field, putting the tying run on third.
Seemingly unaffected, the Louisiana native got the rejuvenated Adam Jones to pop out, issued an intentional walk to recently-hot Christian Walker, and got upstate NY native and Ithaca College alum Tim Locastro to pop out to Amed Rosario at shortstop, ending the threat.
Welcome back, Seth. You’ve been sorely missed.
As Callaway noted, in Lugo’s absence, guys were simply plugging holes to get to Diaz. With the right-hander back in his role as Diaz’ setup man, it allows the rest of the Mets’ relief corps to get comfortable.
Fellow stopper Robert Gsellman got the save on Friday with his clean ninth inning, and can now shift back into his role as Lugo’s lead-in. Together, these two provide the Mets’ bullpen with a sturdy anchor.
When Lugo hit the IL on May 20, the Mets led the majors in bullpen ERA in May with a glowing 1.89 mark. From then through the end of the month, the Mets’ relievers owned a 6.52 ERA — 27th in MLB.
Talk about disarray huh? Now that Seth Lugo is back in the mix, hopefully, this group can get back to business.
