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New York Mets: Can Seth Lugo be the Club’s Left-Handed Specialist?

By Dylan Smith |
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 10: Pitcher Seth Lugo #67 of the New York Mets in action against the New York Yankees during a game at Citi Field on June 10, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Mets defeated the Yankees 2-0. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 10: Pitcher Seth Lugo #67 of the New York Mets in action against the New York Yankees during a game at Citi Field on June 10, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Mets defeated the Yankees 2-0. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

How will the New York Mets use their bullpen to neutralize left-handed hitters in 2019? Can Seth Lugo be part of the solution?

How will the New York Mets use their bullpen to neutralize left-handed hitters in 2019? Longtime bullpen member, Jerry Blevins, had this role in 2018, but his return is unlikely.

The club has a number of internal options ready to replace Blevins. Last week, the Mets also threw Luis Avilan, a newly acquired veteran, into the mix.

We are left to wonder, do the New York Mets even need a left-handed reliever? In an age of nontraditional bullpen usage, this is a realistic option.

Let’s dive into the possibilities.

More from Call to the Pen

Daniel Zamora-LHP/ 2018 Versus LHB .222/.263/.500

Daniel Zamora made his Major League debut late in the 2018 season. The young lefty sports two pitches, a soft fastball, and a looping slider.

Over his first 16 games pitched, Zamora proved that he has the stuff necessary to be successful against big league lefties. Like Blevins, much of Zamora’s success will be limited to left-handed hitters. While the 25-year-old experienced success against righties during his initial cup of coffee,  his repertoire will not bode well through a seasons worth of at-bats versus right-handed hitters.

Should the New York Mets give Daniel Zamora a roster spot when he will only be effective against left-handed hitters? In my opinion, the answer is no, as Zamora’s roster spot won’t be fully optimized. Why not find an arm that can pitch to left and right-handed hitters?

If the Mets decide that they need a left-handed specialist like Zamora, it is reasonable to assume that he won’t join the team’s bullpen right out of Spring Training, as he still has minor league options.

Going forward, judging by his successful debut, the soft-tossing lefty could be the club’s left-handed specialist by the end of the season.

If the Mets feel that it is necessary to keep a left-handed specialist on the roster, Daniel Zamora could be their guy now and in the future.

Luis Avilan-LHP/ 2018 Versus LHB .220./304/.341

New York Mets
New York Mets /

New York Mets

The Mets have seen a lot of Luis Avilan over the past few seasons. The former Braves’ reliever found success in 2018 while pitching for the White Sox and Phillies.

Through 70 games, Avilan stifled lefties, while righties found much more success. Right-handed hitters posted a slash line of .280/.346/.387 against Avilan, which is slightly higher than his career averages of .244/.325/.347.

The Mets did not risk much by acquiring Avilan but like Zamora, Avilan would just be used against left-handed hitters. If the Mets decide to carry a left-handed specialist, we will likely see Zamora and Avilan compete for the role during Spring Training.

Can the Mets justify the left-handed specialist role when you could use a pitcher like Seth Lugo versus right and left-handed hitters?

Seth Lugo– RHP/ 2018 Versus LHB .184/.259/.293

Seth Lugo had a fantastic year in 2018 and as you can see above, the righty was very successful versus left-handed hitters.

Lugo’s role in 2019 should be more fluid as he won’t be needed late in games. He will likely serve a multi-inning role, acting as a bridge to the newly acquired Jeurys Familia and Edwin Diaz.

Would it be unreasonable to also give Lugo an opportunity to mow down some left-handed hitters? Absolutely not, as his big curveball and hard fastball have proven to be effective versus left-handed hitters.

Using Seth Lugo as their left-handed specialist will give the Mets the ability to stretch the depth of their bullpen. Maybe Drew Smith and Tyler Bashlor will now make the team? Maybe this will open up room for a long man like Hector Santiago or Corey Oswalt?

From a value perspective, Jerry Blevins was only worth 1.5 bWAR in 2017, his best season. Drew Smith is a young righty who debuted in 2018, finding mixed success. In only 27 games pitched, Smith was worth .5 bWAR.

On paper, New York Mets would have more value in their bullpen if they let a young pitcher, like Drew Smith, have a roster spot over a traditional left-handed specialist. They could throw more innings, thus providing the club with more value. The Mets have the young bullpen pieces to make a strategy like this work, while allowing Lugo to be their main weapon versus left-handed hitters.

Next. The Mets infield logjam. dark

Using Seth Lugo as a multi situational asset should benefit the team as a whole, as they will be able to add another valuable arm to their bullpen. The New York Mets will have one of the best starting rotations in baseball, they should support their rotation by building the best bullpen possible. To me, this means that the club should not carry a left-handed specialist.

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