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ANALYSIS: San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi has made four starts this season and has shown that he is a lethal strikeout option that can limit baserunners as well. While he threw only 9 2/3 innings over his first two starts, he has registered back-to-back quality starts for the Friars. Lucchesi has only allowed one earned run in those two starts, striking out 17 batters and walking one.
He is scheduled to face the Diamondbacks this weekend, not the easiest of starts for the 25-year-old, but he has shown that he can pitch against an offensively strong team. On April 10, Lucchesi allowed two runs (none earned) in six innings at Coors Field against the Rockies, striking out eight batters and allowing two hits and one walk.
There will be a lot of buzz around the rookie, who has a 1.66 ERA and 1.90 FIP this season, but this is for very good reason. The strikeout potential is real (29.8% K%) and he has limited walks as well (4.8%), putting his K-BB% not far off from his 24.4% K-BB% in High-A last season. There is potential that Lucchesi can stick on all rosters and he should be a must-add in all formats.
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