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The Mets might be wishing now they made Seth Lugo a starter after all.

The former Met became the American League’s first 10-game winner in the Royals’ 7-2 win over the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Lugo (10-2) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings.


  Seth Lugo picked up his AL-leading 10th win in the Royals’ 7-2 win over the Dodgers. Getty Images Seth Lugo picked up his AL-leading 10th win in the Royals’ 7-2 win over the Dodgers. Getty Images

The 34-year-old right-hander — who also leads the AL in innings (97 ¹/₃) and is fifth in ERA (2.40) — struck out four and walked one to join Philadelphia’s Ranger Suárez as the only pitchers in the majors with 10 wins.

“It feels great. I never got to 10 wins in the big leagues or in the minors. I’ve been waiting for that one,” said Lugo, who received a big offensive lift from MJ Melendez who hit a grand slam in the fifth inning on a 12-pitch at-bat.

Lugo, who has a shot to be named an All-Star, outlasted Dodgers star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto whose start was cut short after two innings because of triceps tightness.

Lugo — who signed a three-year, $45 million contract (the third year is a player option) with the Royals this offseason — already has surpassed his previous high in wins.

Last season, Lugo went 8-7 with a 3.57 ERA in 146 ¹/₃ innings for the Padres in his first full-time season as a starter, but decided not to pick up the option on the second year of his deal with the club and decided to be a free agent.

Lugo, spent his first seven years with the Mets, mostly as a reliever.

He made 275 appearances (38 starts) for the club, pitching to a 3.48 ERA and sprinkling in 16 saves to go along with a 32-24 record during that span.


  Seth Lugo throws a pitch during the first inning of the Royals’ win. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Seth Lugo throws a pitch during the first inning of the Royals’ win. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Lugo has never been shy about his desire to be a starting pitcher, but the Mets mostly kept him in the bullpen after the 2017 season, during which he had a 4.71 ERA while making 19 appearances (18 starts).

“No bitterness,” Lugo said. “The Mets treated me really well for a long time. Most of my adult life I was in a Mets uniform. Nothing but appreciation for the organization.”

He made seven starts during the COVID-impacted 2020 season but did not start in 2019, ’21 or ’22.

Lugo had a 3.60 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 65 innings this year.

In hindsight — the Mets, who have been without injured ace Kodai Senga all season — likely would like to have an effective winner and innings-eater like Lugo in their rotation.

— with AP

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