Lugo gave up a run on one hit while striking five over two innings as he picked up the save Sunday against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

Lugo gave up a solo home run in the ninth inning, but he managed to slam the door for his second save of the 2018 season. New York's closer situation is currently a bit messy, but Robert Gsellman and Anthony Swarzak figure to get the first crack in save situations during the final month of the season. Lugo owns a 2.75 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 94 strikeouts through 95 innings this year.

Lugo worked around a pair of hits in a scoreless inning of work to earn his first save of the season Sunday against the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

Spotted a one-run lead, Lugo allowed the leadoff man to reach before inducing a double-play ball. The following batter reached as well, but the right-hander was able to induce another goundball out to close out the victory. The save was also the first of Lugo's career, and he could continue seeing opportunities to close with the Mets bullpen lacking a clear pecking order at the moment.

Mets manager Mickey Callaway said Lugo is not under consideration for a spot start for Monday's doubleheader against the Phillies, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. "I would like to keep Lugo in the bullpen," Callaway said. "We saw the benefits of that [Sunday against the Marlins]," referring to when Lugo tossed 1.2 scoreless innings in his return to a relief role.

EDGE Analysis

Lugo has turned in a credible 3.52 ERA in his five starts this season, but Callaway evidently places more value in the flexibility the right-hander offers out of the bullpen as a multi-inning setup ace or occasional long man. Triple-A Las Vegas starters Chris Flexen and P.J. Conlon now look like the leading candidates to start one half of Monday's twin bill, with Corey Oswalt in line to start the other game. The lack of a consistent pitching schedule out of the bullpen dampens Lugo's fantasy outlook, but he'll at least be a solid ratio stabilizer for owners in deep mixed or NL-only leagues in weeks where attractive streaming options aren't available on the wire.

Lugo was moved to the bullpen prior to Friday's game against Miami, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Mickey Callaway reasoned that with Jason Vargas expected back from the disabled list (calf) by the time the Mets need a fifth starter -- versus Philadelphia on July 9 -- Lugo will be more valuable to the team as a reliever over the next couple weeks. In addition, Corey Oswalt was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas and will likely remain in the rotation until Noah Syndergaard (finger) is ready to return. Over 26 appearances with the Mets this year, Lugo has posted a 2.76 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with a 63:15 K:BB across 58.2 innings.

Lugo (2-3) allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks across five innings to take the loss Monday against the Pirates. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

Lugo wasn't helped out by his defense on a night when the Mets committed three errors, leading to unearned runs in two separate innings. He also allowed a solo home run to Gregory Polanco, but the offense failed to score a single run during his time on the mound and left him with his third loss of the season. While Lugo still carries a sharp 2.76 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP for the season, his numbers have taken a hit since becoming a regular in the starting rotation, as he's allowed nine earned runs over his last 13 innings overall. He'll look to achieve a better result in a favorable matchup with the Marlins this weekend.

Lugo allowed six runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts over three innings in a no-decision Wednesday against the Rockies.

EDGE Analysis

An error to open the second inning put Lugo in the rough spot of having to get four outs at Coors field, which helped build up his pitch count to the point where he had already thrown 72 (just 40 strikes) after three frames. Lugo still has a nasty 20:3 K:BB in three starts since Noah Syndergaard went down with a finger injury, and one rough outing marred by poor defense at the toughest pitchers park in the league shouldn't dissuade anybody who was excited about Lugo's potential. He'll take a 2.85 ERA into his next turn Monday against Pittsburgh.

Lugo (2-2) was tagged with the loss against the Diamondbacks on Friday, yielding five earned runs on eight hits over five innings, striking out seven and walking one in the Mets' 7-3 defeat.

EDGE Analysis

Lugo picked up the win in his first turn filling in for the injured Noah Syndergaard with a brilliant outing in his last start, but he didn't fare as well against Arizona, as he was victimized by a pair of long balls from Paul Goldschmidt and Daniel Descalso. While it wasn't as inspiring a showing as his last effort, Lugo's numbers on the season that include a 2.49 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP over 50.2 innings as both a reliever and a starter are still strong. He's also in line to keep getting starts in the interim with Syndergaard's return date still up in the air, so he should get more of a chance to prove he can thrive in the expanded role.

Lugo, who will start Friday's game against the Diamondbacks, should remain in the Mets rotation for the foreseeable future with Noah Syndergaard (finger) facing an indefinite return date, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

EDGE Analysis

After Lugo spun six shutout innings against a powerful Yankees lineup over the weekend, there was some thought that the right-hander might assume the rotation spot of fifth starter Jason Vargas, who has struggled to a 7.71 ERA and 1.75 WHIP this season. With Syndergaard's return timeline pushed back, however, there will be room in the rotation for both hurlers until further notice. Lugo has been exceptional this season in his role as a multi-inning reliever and occasional spot starter, giving up only three runs in 31.1 innings since the beginning of May while posting a 34:2 K:BB. While Lugo's numbers have undoubtedly been aided by him being able to max out his velocity in the shorter-burst outings, it's worth noting that in his appearance against the Yankees -- his longest of the season -- the right-hander's four-seamer averaged 94.9 miles per hour, per Brooks Baseball. That's three ticks better than what his four-seamer averaged in 2017, offering optimism that Lugo may be able to continue to perform effectively while assuming a starter's workload.

Lugo is penciled in to start Friday in Arizona, Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record reports.

EDGE Analysis

If Noah Syndergaard (finger) was ready to return over the weekend, one of Lugo or Jason Vargas, who starts Saturday, would likely be bumped from the rotation. Syndergaard is getting a second opinion on his finger, though, so both pitchers will remain starters for the time being. Lugo impressed with six shutout innings and eight strikeouts Sunday against the Yankees and owns an excellent 1.77 ERA through 45.2 innings (mostly in relief) so far this season.

Mets manager Mickey Callaway acknowledged after Sunday's 2-0 win over the Yankees that Lugo is making a case to stick in the club's rotation, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic New York reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though he was limited to 84 pitches Sunday while starting for just the second time in his 23 appearances of the season, Lugo was brilliant throughout the evening, spinning six shutout innings while striking out eight and allowing just two baserunners. Lugo has proven similarly effective in his extended relief outings and maintains a stellar 1.77 ERA and 0.85 WHIP for the campaign, so it would certainly seem that he's deserving of a more vital role on the Mets' pitching staff. While the Mets have yet to confirm whether Lugo's next appearance will come in relief or as a starter, the team may have set in motion the right-hander's addition to the rotation by skipping Jason Vargas' initially scheduled turn Tuesday against the Braves, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. The Mets will next require a fifth starter over the weekend in Arizona, so it should be clear at that time whether Lugo or Vargas sticks in the rotation.