Lugo will 'start more' for Mets; Matz to 'pen

When Luis Rojas spoke with reporters prior to Wednesday’s 5-3 win, he said the Mets were still “not committed” to a Thursday starter.

By the time they took the field at Marlins Park, that commitment had been locked in.

Seth Lugo was scheduled to start Thursday's series finale vs. the Marlins before it was postponed due to two positive COVID-19 tests in the Mets organization, but he figures to be a starter in the near future for the Mets.

“Seth has been a starter for us in the past, and with the ability for him of navigating through a lineup, his repertoire and command, we're going to go that way with him,” Rojas said. “That's the route we're taking right now, is for him to start more and stretch him out.”

• Mets get good news on Peterson's shoulder

Lugo has made 31 starts in his career, though he hasn’t started since June 25, 2018. The 30-year-old led the Mets with three saves in five opportunities this season, but now he’ll move into the rotation in an attempt to help fill the void created by the injuries and inconsistency the team has faced.

Rojas repeatedly mentioned Lugo’s ability to pitch multiple innings in terms of being able to stretch his arm out, but the righty has pitched two innings in a game only twice this season. He has thrown fewer than 20 pitches in his past seven appearances dating back to July 29.

Thursday's postponed game would have been Steven Matz’s day to pitch, but the left-hander has struggled all season and has a 14.66 ERA in three August starts. Matz will head to the bullpen, and while Rojas didn’t rule out the possibility of a return to the rotation, the manager made it clear it isn’t a foregone conclusion.

“I don't want to commit to that right now,” Rojas said. “His focus is right now; he's got to be where he is, and that's when he gets the ball the next time. The way he’s going to help us, the way he’s going to pitch, that should be his main focus right now.”

Lugo’s new role as a member of the starting rotation nearly cost the Mets on Wednesday, as Dellin Betances and Edwin Díaz blew a two-run lead in the eighth before Michael Conforto bailed them out with a go-ahead, two-run homer in the ninth.

“We blew a save opportunity there, but Díaz did a good job coming right back showing what he can do,” said Rojas, referring to Díaz striking out the side in the ninth to allow Conforto’s homer to stand as the game-winner. “We trust our 'pen; we trust the guys that we have there.”

Rojas didn’t name a new closer, pointing to the fact that Díaz, Betances, Justin Wilson, Jeurys Familia and Brad Brach all have experience closing games.

“There are a lot of guys that can give us depth in the bullpen,” Rojas said. “There are a lot of guys that we can use in different situations and to close a game.”

For now, though, Lugo will not be one of them.