Padres News: Friars' RHP Failing To See Bright Side of IL Stint

Padres starter doesn't see break in action as a good sign

The San Diego Padres 2023 season seems filled with hurdle after hurdle. A few days ago, we learned that Padres starting pitcher Seth Lugo would be placed in the 15-day IL due to a left calf strain. The 33-year-old hasn't looked as great as advertised, but that's due to his role in the rotation.

Lugo hasn't been a starting pitcher since the 2020 shortened season. In eight games this season, he's close to approaching his innings pitched from 2022 and 2021. The innings pitched may be taking a toll on the righty, and this injury could have much to do with that. As a player, you never want to suffer an injury; however, an injury could help you reflect on things that may have gone wrong and tweak them. That's not how Lugo sees it, as he told Padres insider Jeff Sanders that he doesn't want this injury to change his pitch count and innings pitched. 

“We talked about that a little bit,” Lugo said. “It’s what the doctor mentioned. … I don’t see it that way. I want to pitch as much as I can.”

Lugo has gone 3-3 through eight starts with a 4.10 ERA in 41.2 innings pitched. In 2022, he pitched in 65 innings through the course of 62 games; in 2021, he pitched in 46.1 innings through 46 games with the New York Mets. 

The point of all this is he may be overdoing it, and he may not have enough to pitch at this rate for the entire regular season. As a starting pitcher, Lugo may not be the answer, but this is what he wanted and what the Padres needed from him. 

We'll see how long this could last and if anything changes when he returns. This calf strain shouldn't keep him out for too long, so we'll see his role when he returns.