Lucchesi elected free agency Monday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.
The Mets booted Lucchesi from their 40-man roster and he has opted for free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. Lucchesi holds a career 4.10 ERA and 388:137 K:BB over 394.2 innings covering parts of six big-league seasons.
Lucchesi (0-2) took the loss in the second game of Monday's doubleheader against Atlanta, allowing one run on three hits and four walks over six innings. He struck out five.
The 31-year-old got the spot start -- just his second MLB appearance of 2024 -- after the Mets clinched a wild-card berth by winning the first game of the twin bill, and Lucchesi delivered his first quality start in the majors since Sept. 27 of last year. A lack of run support from a lineup resting top players like Francisco Lindor saddled him with the loss, however. Lucchesi tossed 111 pitches (62 strikes) in the outing, but he likely wasn't factoring into New York's postseason rotation plans anyway.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Summoned to start second game
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The Mets selected Lucchesi's contract from Triple-A Syracuse on Monday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
With the Mets having already clinched a playoff spot in winning the first game over Atlanta on Monday, they will turn to Lucchesi in the second contest and save Luis Severino for the wild-card series. Lucchesi has made one start for the Mets this season, allowing five runs over 4.1 frames.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Clears waivers
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The Mets outrighted Lucchesi to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday after he cleared waivers.
Lucchesi will remain in the Mets system after no other team was willing to dedicate a 40-man roster spot to the left-hander and foot the bill for the money remaining on his one-year, $1.65 million contract. The 31-year-old turned in a 2.89 ERA over nine starts for the Mets in 2023, but he was lit up for five earned runs in 4.1 innings in his lone spot start with the big club this season, which came back on May 15 in Philadelphia. Lucchesi has otherwise been a regular member of the Syracuse rotation this season, logging a 4.20 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 63:34 K:BB across 83.2 innings.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Removed from 40-man roster
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The Mets designated Lucchesi for assignment Tuesday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
The move comes after the Mets acquired reliever Phil Maton from the Rays on Tuesday. Lucchesi made a spot start for the big club May 15, allowing five runs over 4.1 innings in a loss to the Phillies. He went 5-4 over 15 starts with Triple-A Syracuse, posting a 4.20 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 63:34 K:BB across 83.2 innings. If Lucchesi clears waivers, the 31-year-old southpaw will decide whether to elect free agency or stay with the Mets as pitching depth at Triple-A.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Mets optioned Lucceshi to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.
Lucchesi made a spot start Wednesday in Philadelphia, getting knocked around for five runs over 4.1 innings of work. He'll rejoin the Syracuse rotation while Josh Walker gives the Mets a fresh relief arm.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Struggles in spot start
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Lucchesi (0-1) took the loss against Philadelphia on Wednesday, allowing five runs on five hits and four walks while striking out two batters over 4.1 innings.
It certainly wasn't an ideal matchup for Lucchesi to make his first start of the season, and he didn't do himself any favors in issuing four free passes. Three of the walks came in the fifth frame, and all three of the recipients came around to score. The left-hander was also tormented by Bryce Harper, who hit a solo homer against him in the first inning and then sent him to the showers with a two-run double in the fifth. Lucchesi may return to the minors in short order with Tylor Megill (shoulder) expected to rejoin New York's rotation Sunday or Monday.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Recalled ahead of start
Rotowire
The Mets recalled Lucchesi from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.
Lucchesi will make a spot start Wednesday in Philadelphia. The 30-year-old has spent all of the 2024 season with Syracuse, collecting a 2.58 ERA and 28:16 K:BB over 38.1 frames. Lucchesi makes for a poor streaming option Wednesday in a difficult matchup.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Set to start Wednesday
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The Mets will recall Lucchesi from Triple-A Syracuse to start Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Lucchesi will be making his first big-league appearance of the season after posting a 2.58 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across 38.1 innings in the minors. The 30-year-old southpaw found success with the Mets last season, but he will be tested in his first outing of 2024 by a Phillies lineup that boasts a .755 OPS.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Immediate promotion unlikely
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Lucchesi can't be added to the 26-man roster until April 12 without an associated injured list move, and he likely isn't an option to replace Tylor Megill (shoulder) in the rotation when the Mets next need a fifth starter April 9, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
The Mets are caught in a bind when it comes to their pitching staff. With Yohan Ramirez facing a two-game suspension, the team elected to add Reed Garrett to the roster for bullpen depth when Megill landed on the IL, which blocks Lucchesi or Jose Butto from being promoted to plug the immediate hole in the rotation. That gives prospects Christian Scott and Mike Vasil, who aren't yet on the 40-man roster, a leg up to take Megill's spot. The Mets are also said to have interest in signing Julio Teheran. Lucchesi could be added late in the month, however -- New York plays 13 games in 13 days starting Friday and will likely need a sixth starter to get through that stretch.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Likely to fill in for Megill?
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Lucchesi is likely to absorb the rotation spot vacated by Tylor Megill (shoulder), Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.
Lucchesi permitted just one unearned run and struck out five over five innings in his season debut with Triple-A Syracuse on March 29. He also had a 2.89 ERA in nine starts for the Mets last season, although that came with a 1.31 WHIP and 32:17 K:BB across 46.2 frames. Jose Butto is another option to fill in for Megill. Whoever takes Megill's spot will likely start in Cincinnati this weekend.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Competing for rotation spot
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Lucchesi will be in the mix for the fifth spot in the Mets' rotation following the injury to Kodai Senga (shoulder), Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Lucchesi fared well in nine starts for the Mets last season in securing a 2.89 ERA, although that came with a 1.31 WHIP and 32:17 K:BB across 46.2 frames. Tylor Megill is likely Lucchesi's chief competition for the gig, with Jose Butto and Max Kranick also in the mix.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Avoids arbitration with Mets
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The Mets and Lucchesi avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.65 million contract Thursday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Lucchesi was arbitration-eligible for the second time. The southpaw posted a 2.89 ERA in nine starts for the Mets in 2023, although that came with a 32:17 K:BB over 46.2 frames. Lucchesi could be used as a swingman in 2024.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Stays undefeated
Rotowire
Lucchesi (4-0) picked up the win in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Marlins, giving up two runs on seven hits and two walks over six-plus innings in an 11-2 rout. He struck out three.
The southpaw took a shutout into the seventh inning before serving up back-to-back doubles to Jazz Chisholm and Nick Fortes to lead off the frame and getting the hook, but the Mets were already comfortably ahead 6-0 at that point. Lucchesi has been sharp in September, posting a 1.93 ERRA, 1.34 WHIP and 10:7 K:BB through 18.2 innings over three starts, and he could be positioning himself for a full-time rotation spot in 2024, assuming he can stay healthy.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Starting first game of doubleheader
Rotowire
Lucchesi will start the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Marlins.
Lucchesi had been slated to start Tuesday before that contest was rained out, so he'll get the ball for the makeup game instead. Kodai Senga will make his regularly scheduled start in Wednesday's nightcap.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Tuesday's start postponed
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Lucchesi won't start as scheduled Tuesday because the game was postponed due to unplayable field conditions.
The Mets and Marlins will play a doubleheader Wednesday, and Lucchesi figures to start one of the two games. The 30-year-old lefty has given up four runs (two earned) over 12.2 innings across his two starts in September.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Two earned runs in no-decision
Rotowire
Lucchesi did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks over 5.2 innings against Miami. He struck out five.
Lucchesi followed up last week's impressive performance with another solid start in Miami on Tuesday, surrendering a run-scoring double in the third, an unearned run on his own throwing error in the fifth and an RBI single in the sixth. In his two outings since being recalled from Triple-A, the lanky lefty has posted a 1.42 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 7:5 K:BB across 12.2 innings. Assuming he remains in the Mets' six-man rotation, Lucchesi is tentatively scheduled for a mid-week rematch with the Marlins in his next start.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Remains in rotation
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Lucchesi is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday against the Marlins in Miami.
The Mets appear content to close out the season with a six-man rotation that includes Lucchesi, who was called up from Triple-A Syracuse last week. While making his first appearance for the Mets since Aug. 18 this past Wednesday, Lucchesi earned a win over the Diamondbacks after striking out two and allowing one unearned run on five hits and three walks over seven innings. He now holds a 2.83 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 24:13 K:BB in 35 innings in the big leagues on the season.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Earns victory after call-up
Rotowire
Lucchesi (3-0) notched the win over Arizona on Wednesday, allowing an unearned run on five hits and three walks while striking out two batters over seven innings.
Lucchesi got the chance to start after spending most of the past month in the minors and took advantage of the opportunity, keeping the Diamondbacks scoreless through seven frames. He exited after the first two batters he faced in the eighth reached base -- one on a walk and the other on an error -- but the run that was charged to him after his departure was unearned. This was Lucchesi's second seven-inning outing of the campaign, with his other coming in his first start April 21 against San Francisco. The southpaw has pitched pretty well when given the chance in the majors this season, posting a 2.83 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 24:13 K:BB over 35 frames, and he could stick in the rotation down the stretch with the Mets essentially out of the playoff race.
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Mets' Joey Lucchesi: Recalled for start Wednesday
Rotowire
Lucchesi was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse ahead of his start Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.
Lucchesi is expected to finish out the season in the Mets' rotation and might have fantasy streaming appeal in certain matchups. The left-hander threw 87 pitches in his last start for Syracuse and carries a respectable 3.54 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 22:10 K:BB in 28 major-league innings (six starts) this year.
