Lugo starting to turn heads in pen

WASHINGTON – Seth Lugo is establishing himself as the anchor in a Mets bullpen that’s been turbulent to start the season.

The right-hander is on a streak of 12.1 scoreless innings dating back to April 22. Lugo has allowed just four hits, issued two walks and struck out 16 batters in that span.

Since overcoming a flu that was spreading around the Mets clubhouse in the first few of weeks of the season, the 29-year-old has been lights-out. Lugo has a 1.27 ERA and 27 strikeouts since April 13. This compares to a 12.27 ERA over his first four outings this year.

Lugo is especially effective at mopping up a starter’s mess. He’s stranded all six of the runners he’s inherited this year.

Already making noise in Queens, Lugo is turning heads around the league. The righty is tied for third among majorleague relievers with 25 innings pitched and tied for fourth with 32 strikeouts.

Mets skipper Mickey Callaway said Lugo is staying true to some adjustments he made after the start of the season.

“We’ve seen Lugo really start to trust his four-seam fastball and his curveball again, which it probably seemed like he didn’t at the beginning,” Callaway said. “Relievers go through ups and downs.”

Lugo found his groove and started to click at the right moment for the Mets. Over the past month, the team has attempted to survive myriad injuries to its key relievers.

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Jason Vargas (left hamstring tightness) and Steven Matz (left forearm nerve irritation) are making progress in their respective returns from the 10-day injured list. Vargas appeared one step ahead of Matz when he threw a bullpen session on Tuesday.

Callaway said Vargas came out of the bullpen session feeling good. The Mets will discuss what the next step is for Vargas depending on how he wants to increase the workload. The expectation remains that Vargas will be available to start against the Marlins this weekend.

“We want Vargas to be the best version of himself when he comes back, so we’re going to sit down and try to come up with a game plan to get him to that point, whether it’s a rehab outing or just getting activated up here at some point,” Callaway said.

Matz played catch for the first time on Tuesday since experiencing nerve irritation in his left forearm. The southpaw threw a bullpen session on Wednesday and the Mets were waiting to see how he came out of it.

DOM IN LEFT AGAIN?

Dominic Smith is proving himself invaluable to the Mets as a late-inning pinch-hitter. The only problem for the first baseman is Pete Alonso, who occupies that corner of the diamond on a regular basis.

Smith launched his first homer of the year in the Mets’ 6-2 win against the Nationals on Tuesday. He entered Wednesday batting .368 with a double, homer, four RBI, six runs scored and four walks with a 1.079 OPS off the bench this season.