Erceg picked up the save Friday against Miami. He pitched a 1.1 innings with three strikeouts, allowing one run on two hits and no walks.
In a semi-surprising development, Oakland manager Mark Kotsay allowed Erceg to collect the save Friday night instead of Mason Miller. However, Miller pitched back-to-back nights Tuesday and Wednesday and may have required additional rest. In earning his second save, Erceg appears to be the next reliever in line for save opportunities.
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Athletics' Lucas Erceg: Earns first career save
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Erceg tossed one perfect inning, striking out two to earn the save during Sunday's 7-6 win over the Orioles.
Erceg was called upon to close the door for his first career save after the A's commandeered the lead in the top of the ninth. Oakland's regular closer, Mason Miller, has been a revelation in end-game situations but was rested for a second game in a row, affording the rare save opportunity for Erceg.
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Athletics' Lucas Erceg: Earns first win Monday
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Erceg (1-1) earned the win against the Yankees on Monday, firing two scoreless innings during which he allowed a walk and recorded a strikeout.
Erceg took the baton from starter JP Sears, who stymied his former Yankees squad over six shutout, three-hit innings. Erceg didn't miss a beat, locating 17 of his 26 pitches for strikes and serving as a bridge to a rare save opportunity for Mason Miller in the ninth inning. The right-hander now has five consecutive scoreless appearances, a span during which he's fired six scoreless frames while recording six strikeouts.
Athletics' Lucas Erceg: Putting together impressive spring
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Erceg fired two scoreless relief innings during which he allowed two hits and recorded two strikeouts in a Cactus League win over the Diamondbacks on Monday.
The right-hander's spring ERA remained unblemished with Monday's impressive performance, and the two hits were the first he's allowed this spring. Erceg has appeared in four Cactus League games overall and pitched a total of five innings, allowing an unearned run with a 5:1 K:BB. Erceg logged the first 50 big-league appearances of his career last season in Oakland, occasionally working as a multi-inning reliever and posting a 4-4 record, 11 holds, a 4.75 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP.
Athletics' Lucas Erceg: Works around control issues for win
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Erceg (4-4) recorded the win against the Twins on Thursday, firing a scoreless seventh inning during which he issued three walks and recorded a strikeout.
The right-hander nearly blew the 1-1 lead he was tasked with preserving, but he was able to get Donovan Solano swinging to snuff out the bases-loaded threat. Erceg has settled down after an uneven early part of the season, as he's now posted scoreless appearances in 14 of his last 15 trips to the mound, including in seven straight outings.
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Athletics' Lucas Erceg: Takes fourth loss Saturday
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Erceg (3-4) took the loss against the Rangers on Saturday, allowing an earned run on three walks over two-thirds of an inning.
Erceg was tasked with preserving a 2-2 tie when he entered in the seventh inning. He got his frame off to an encouraging start by retiring the daunting duo of Marcus Semien and Corey Seager. However, the right-hander went on to issue three consecutive walks and was charged with what would eventually prove to be the game-winning run after Robbie Grossman crossed the plate on a Francisco Perez wild pitch later in the inning. Erceg's stumble snapped a streak of seven straight scoreless appearances, and the outing marked his eighth appearance this season with multiple walks.
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Athletics' Lucas Erceg: Records third win Thursday
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Erceg (3-3) recorded the win against the White Sox on Thursday, firing a scoreless sixth inning during which he allowed a hit and issued a walk.
Erceg followed starter Ken Waldichuk and navigated around some trouble during his one frame. The right-hander was then rewarded for his work when Zack Gelof put the Athletics up for good in the seventh inning with a two-run home run. Erceg may be starting to hit his stride, as he's now produced scoreless efforts in three of his last four appearances despite issuing one free pass in each of those outings.
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Athletics' Lucas Erceg: Saddled with loss Saturday
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Erceg (2-3) took the loss against the Nationals on Saturday, allowing a walk-off solo home run to the only batter he faced.
Although Trevor May was available after last having pitched Wednesday, manager Mark Kotsay decided to entrust Erceg with preserving a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the ninth. That decision quickly became regrettable, as Keibert Ruiz took the first pitch he saw from Erceg to lead off the inning and sent it 391 feet into the right-field stands for a game-winning home run. It was the second straight night the Nationals had gotten to Erceg, as he'd yielded a pair of earned runs over two-thirds of an inning Friday. It's been a rough August for the right-hander overall, as he's now given up nine runs (eight earned) over four innings across six appearances while posting a 3:4 K:BB.
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Athletics' Lucas Erceg: Takes first loss Sunday
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Erceg (2-1) took the loss against the Twins on Sunday, allowing two earned runs on two hits and two walks without recording an out.
Erceg's outing headed south immediately, as he allowed a walk and an infield single to load the bases before surrendering a three-run double to Alex Kirilloff that erased Minnesota's 3-2 deficit for good. After not conceding an earned run for nine consecutive appearances between June 7 and June 27, Erceg has now pitched to an abysmal 18.00 ERA and 3.33 WHIP across the six innings covering his last six trips to the mound, albeit while also recording an impressive 13 strikeouts in that span.
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Athletics' Lucas Erceg: Dominant in first win
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Erceg (1-0) got the win over Atlanta on Monday, firing three perfect innings during which he recorded four strikeouts.
The rookie got his nine outs on a relatively efficient 47 pitches and extended his scoreless streak to four appearances in the process. Monday's outing was Erceg's longest by far during his brief big-league career, one in which Martin Gallegos of MLB.com notes the right-hander flashed a fastball averaging 97.6 mph that he complemented with a biting slider and power sinker. Erceg's body of work thus far -- especially against a talented Atlanta lineup -- has undoubtedly helped him quickly earn manager Mark Kotsay's trust, with the Athletics skipper deviating from his plan to use Erceg for only one inning Monday after seeing how effective he was in that initial frame.
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Athletics' Lucas Erceg: Promoted to big leagues
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The Athletics selected Erceg from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.
The A's acquired Erceg from Milwaukee on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations, and now the 28-year-old will get his first chance in the big leagues. Erceg holds a 6.47 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in the minors this season but has shown an ability to strike batters out at an above-average rate. Still, it's unlikely he gets many high-leverage opportunities in an unsettled Oakland bullpen before proving he can succeed in the big leagues.
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Athletics' Lucas Erceg: Traded to A's
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The Brewers traded Erceg to the Athletics on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations.
Erceg has struggled to begin the season in Triple-A Nashville, holding a 6.46 ERA and 1.57 WHIP through 15.1 innings. Despite his below-average performance, Oakland's lack of talent at the major-league level makes it possible that Erceg debuts in the majors at some point this season, although he would have to be added to the 40-man roster before that could happen.
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Brewers' Lucas Erceg: Nabs major-league camp invite
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Erceg signed a minor-league deal with the Brewers on Tuesday that includes an invitation to major-league camp for spring training, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Erceg was used exclusively as a reliever in the minors last season after beginning his professional career as an infielder. He spent most of his time at Triple-A Nashville in 2022, posting a 3.43 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 39.1 innings out of the bullpen. Considering the struggles that Milwaukee's bullpen dealt with down the stretch in 2022, Erceg could get the chance to earn a spot on the Brewers' 40-man roster by the end of camp.
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Brewers' Lucas Erceg: Attempting two-way conversion
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Erceg has been working on pitching at the Brewers' alternate training site as he attempts to become a two-way player, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Erceg is exactly the type of player that a team might want to convert to a two-way role. He's not a non-prospect on the offensive side, but his bat doesn't seem quite good enough for him to carve out a meaningful role. He also has experience as a pitcher, having served as a closer in college. His path to the big leagues could involve him pitching well enough to be the last man in the bullpen while hitting well enough to be the last man on the bench, giving the team more flexibility with its other 25 roster spots.
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Brewers' Lucas Erceg: Reassigned by Brewers
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Erceg was reassigned to minor league camp Monday.
Erceg took 22 at-bats with the big club this spring but recorded a hit in just four of them. He was considered one of the Brewers' better prospects a few years ago, but down seasons at both the Double-A and Triple-A levels leave him a fringe prospect for now. Erceg will presumably open 2020 at the Triple-A level, so he could at least give himself a shot to play at the top level if he can make some strides in the average and on-base departments.
Brewers' Lucas Erceg: Fast start at Triple-A level
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Erceg has gone 9-for-23 (.391) with three home runs, eight RBI, and an 8:7 BB:K over his last eight games with Triple-A San Antonio.
Erceg started the minor-league season just 1-for-11, but he has been on fire since, both getting on base and hitting for power at a stellar clip. This is Erceg's first full campaign at the Triple-A level, and it could not have started much better for him. It's a bit of a long shot he will make his big-league debut this year given he is not on the Brewers' 40-man roster, plus his fellow San Antonio infielders are much more experienced, but a big season would still go a long way toward increasing his long-term value.
