Lugo came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 8-5 loss to the Guardians, coughing up five runs on six hits and a walk over six-plus innings. He struck out five.
Kansas City staked the veteran right-hander to a 5-0 lead, but homers by Josh Naylor in the bottom of the fourth inning and Tyler Freeman in the seventh fueled a Cleveland comeback. Lugo tossed 64 of 98 pitches for strikes before exiting, as he lasted at least six innings for the seventh time in his last eight trips to the mound, a stretch in which he sports a 2.19 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 57:12 K:BB through 53.1 innings. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the Mariners.
Lugo (9-1) earned the win Wednesday over the Twins, allowing one run on six hits and three walks while striking out five over six innings.
Lugo won five of his six starts in May, allowing just nine runs (eight earned) over 40.1 innings in the month. This was just the fourth time in 12 starts Lugo has allowed nine or more baserunners, as he's been one of the most dominant pitchers in the majors this season. The right-hander is now at a 1.72 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 66:18 K:BB over 78.1 innings this season. Lugo's next start is projected to be at Cleveland in a battle between the AL Central's two best teams.
Lugo (8-1) picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over seven innings in an 8-1 victory over the Rays. He struck out three.
The veteran right-hander was stingy once again, giving up two earned runs or fewer for the sixth straight start despite a lack of dominance Friday (only eight swinging strikes among his 104 pitches). Lugo has gone 5-0 over that aforementioned six-start stretch with a 1.52 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 47:8 K:BB through 41.1 innings, and he'll look to keep rolling in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come on the road next week in Minnesota.
Lugo (7-1) earned the win Saturday over the Athletics, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out 10 over 5.2 innings.
Lugo was able to limit the damage to a two-run home run by Seth Brown in the second inning. This was Lugo's second straight start with double-digit strikeouts, though he came up one out short of a fifth straight quality start. The right-hander is now at a 1.79 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 58:13 K:BB through 65.1 innings over 10 starts this season. He's projected to make his next start on the road against the Rays.
