Just what the doctor ordered.
After missing nearly two years due to Tommy John surgery, starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi shined in his return to the mound on Friday night.
Lucchesi pitched the Mets' best game of the season, going seven shutout innings while striking out nine in the team's 7-0 victory over the Giants at Oracle Park.
The left-hander was the first Mets starting pitcher to record an out in the seventh inning this season, in which he struck out the side in the frame.
The length of his outing provided a much needed breather for a Mets bullpen that had been overused in the past two games.
The Mets called up Lucchesi, 29, to replace Carlos Carrasco in the rotation, as he landed on the injured list with a bone chip in his right elbow. Carrasco received a cortisone shot and his return is dependent on how well he can manage his elbow discomfort.
“I am super grateful to be up here with the team and be able to pitch like I did for the team,” said Lucchesi, who is a Bay Area native that had about 50 family members and friends in attendance to watch his start.
Lucchesi was the latest Mets depth starter (David Peterson, Tylor Megill and Jose Butto) to prove he could hold his own when called upon.
He last pitched in the major leagues for the Mets in June of 2021 before Tommy John surgery knocked him out until last night.
“In ’21 I felt like I was kind of catching my rhythm and starting to throw hard after being traded over here from the Padres,” Lucchesi said. “Then I blew my arm out … fast forward to this outing, it was a grind, a lot of emotions. Just try to stay patient and wait for that moment. This moment for me was tonight and I am glad I dominated it.”
The Mets have been forced to dip into their pitching depth early, with Justin Verlander, Jose Quintana and Carrasco sidelined. Max Scherzer will also have to miss his next start as he received a 10-game suspension for pitching with a foreign substance.
Scherzer's start could possibly go to Butto, but only if he is recalled to replace a player that goes on the IL.
If not, he must spend 15 days from last Monday in the minor leagues because that is when he was optioned to Syracuse.
The Mets are 7-1 on their west coast road trip and have won 8-of-9 overall. They've also won 11 of their last 14 games.
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