Seth Lugo to use curve more often as Mets emphasize breaking balls

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Seth Lugo is known for his curveball. 

The righty possesses a sharp breaking ball that induces whiffs, and even tossed a curveball in 2016 that set a StatCast record for revolutions per minute.

The Mets' new coaching staff knew about that curveball when they started working with Lugo this camp, and delivered a simple message to the former 34th-round pick: use it.

"They encouraged me to throw my curveball and that’s one thing I had in the back of my mind," Lugo said. "Some coaches don’t want you to throw too many breaking balls, just attack with the fastball. They told me use that curveball, don’t be afraid to use it.

As Lugo prepares to start the year as the Mets' fifth starter in place of Jason Vargas, the righty is prepared to utilize his best pitch more often under the guidance of the new staff. Lugo outperformed Zack Wheeler to win the rotation spot, and his stay in the rotation will be determined by how long Vargas is sidelined with a broken bone in his right. 

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"Been throwing it a lot more and throwing it when I want to," Lugo said. "Getting a lot more comfortable with it.”

The philosophy to use more breaking balls is one the Mets are now employing with manager Mickey Callaway and pitching coach Dave Eiland running the show. 

Batters hit fastballs better than sliders and curveballs, and using those breaking balls can help pitchers in this era when hitters are blasting more homers than ever.

Using breaking balls more frequently also fits within the Mets' plan to limit how many times their starters face batters. Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard can pitch deep into games, but the other starters, including Lugo, may not face batters three times.

Starters may be limited to four or five innings, and Callaway and Eiland would rather that pitcher use his best stuff since he doesn't need to save it for later in the game.  

"If you need to throw it second pitch of the game, go throw it," Callaway said after a 4-3 win over Miami. "Show them your best stuff because we don’t care how far you pitch in the game, we just want you to be as effective as possible while you’re out there.”

Lugo utilized his best pitch 16.5 percent of the time in 2016 and 17.6 percent last year, according to brooksbaseball.net. Batters hit .235 against it in 2016 compared to .288 last season per the website, but the pitch has been working well for him during camp.

It should help Lugo if batters know he's willing to go to that pitch early in a game. 

"Great spin on it. He can use it in various ways and bury it and throw it for a strike," Callaway said. "A lot of guys that have a big curveball like that just throw it and might not have as good command as Lugo does with it. That’s a big weapon for him," 

Lugo will start the fifth game of the season April 3 against the Phillies, and this will mark his first time being on an Opening Day roster.

The righty entered camp knowing he would have to battle just to earn a spot, and he shined while Wheeler struggled. In Wheeler's last start, Lugo entered in relief and pitched four scoreless innings when he originally had been slotted for just one inning.

“I'm just proud to earn my spot," Lugo said. "Feel like I put in a lot of hard work this spring and nice to see it paid off.”

Lugo also is not experiencing any issues from the partial tear in his partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Surgery is on the table, but Lugo has pitched through it. He figures to be used as a reliever once Vargas returns.

"I’ve been working on physical (aspects) to feel the way I want to feel and getting a lot more flexibility," Lugo said. "That takes all the pressure off my arm. Feel great right now.”