Toronto Blue Jays Rookie Easton Lucas has been putting on quite the performance in the rotation, showcasing why he deserves another start. Lucas was called up to the rotation to replace Max Scherzer, who’s been dealing with a lingering thumb issue. The 28-year-old put up five scoreless innings against the Washington Nationals and picked up his first win.
In his second start against the Boston Red Sox, he allowed three hits, struck out 8, and only walked one batter. He picked up his second win against Garrett Crochet. His two impressive starts have held him to a 2-0 record, 0.00 ERA with 11 strikeouts across 10.2 innings pitched. This indicates that he deserves to make another start in the rotation.
How Lucas Dominated on the Mound
The location of his pitches in Tuesday’s game against the Red Sox was pinpoint. He’s also sported a spectacular hard-hit rate of 15.4%. But above all, the fact that the left-hander hasn’t allowed any runs across two starts is pretty remarkable as a rookie. The Blue Jays needed somebody to come in to replace Scherzer and put up quality innings, and that’s exactly what Lucas has executed. He’s pitching like a pro, and manager John Schneider is happy with how he’s pitched. According to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, Schneider stated:
“You hope it’s one of those feel-good stories, right?” said manager John Schneider. “He’s done a really good job of taking advantage of every resource available and understanding, at this point in his career, how his stuff works and really how good he can be.”
Confidence is Key for Lucas
Lucas has seized on the opportunity to pitch in the rotation, and now, with his outstanding performance, we will likely be seeing more of him. Depending on how long Scherzer is out, he deserves to continue pitching in the rotation. Lucas is known for his solid four-seam fastball, which produces a high number of swings and misses. His repertoire also includes a potent changeup, which he has fine-tuned. In his first MLB start, he pitched effectively with a high fastball and an improved changeup. His slider also generates a high number of groundballs. Lucas has been pitching with a lot of confidence, and it’s showcased through his solid command of the strike zone.
“I have a lot of confidence in where I’m throwing my pitches,” said Lucas. “That was kind of something that clicked at the end of spring training. I was struggling to command my fastball last year and just dealing with the adrenaline. So this year, I’ve focused on being under control and commanding my fastball. After that, it opens up everything else.”
Overall, his performance was well-received by the Blue Jays, and they’ve shown faith in him. Including Scherzer, who has shown his support. He’s put them in a good spot and is making his team proud. Lucas’s ability to locate his pitches and develop a solid pitch sequence has been illustrated. In addition to him playing around with the speed of the pitches, movement, and location, which allows him to keep batters off balance at the plate.
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