Lucas builds off 1st career start with 8 K's in 2nd straight win

BOSTON -- Every once in a while, a player comes along who reminds you that every single move matters.

Fans bundled themselves in coats and scarves to survive a frigid Fenway Park Tuesday night, hoping to see a dominant lefty. Well, they did, his name was just Easton Lucas.

Lucas outdueled Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet in a convincing, 6-1 win. What a 48 hours it’s been for the Blue Jays, with the news of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 14-year, $500 million extension on top of two wins in Boston, but what Lucas did Tuesday night deserves a share of the spotlight to itself. The 28-year-old journeyman threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings and the eye test may have looked even better than the box score.

“He pitched with no fear,” said Bo Bichette. “We need him. He’s a big part of our team right now. For him to pitch like that against a lineup like that? It’s cool for all of us to see.”

By the time Lucas walked off the mound, pitching coach Pete Walker nearly took his arm off with a high five.

There was such a sense of confidence to the way Lucas pitched, his body uncoiling towards the Blue Jays’ dugout each time. The quick, quiet fist pumps grew from the first strikeout to the eighth. Coming off five shutout frames in his first start a week ago, he once again looked like a pitcher who belonged, not a guy making his second career start in the Majors.

How Lucas got here is half the story. The Blue Jays claimed him off waivers from the Tigers on Aug. 19, 2024, and you’re forgiven if you don’t remember the move. The Blue Jays churned through what felt like 100 waiver-wire pitchers in the second half of last year, particularly after their Trade Deadline sell-off. Lucas was just one of the bunch.

After the Blue Jays claimed Lucas, they activated him for a few days and it didn’t go well. He allowed six runs over 4 2/3 innings with four walks and two strikeouts. Here he is, though, the first man in line to take Max Scherzer’s rotation spot on a team that’s trying to compete for the postseason … and he’s nailing it.

“I have a lot of confidence in where I’m throwing my pitches. That clicked at the end of Spring Training,” Lucas said. “I was struggling to command my fastball last year and I was dealing with the adrenaline. This year, I’m focused on being under control and commanding my fastball. After that, it opens up everything else.”

He’s shown he can hang in the big leagues. Now, he just needs to keep doing it while opposing lineups -- stacked with MLB stars -- prepare for him with more and more video to watch. This is where it gets challenging.

“I really think it makes a difference. It’s kind of like football. As soon as you put stuff on tape, people are going to react to it,” manager John Schneider said. “The more you’re pitching here, the more adjustments you have to make without deviating from your strengths too much.”

This is where the magic happens in baseball. Front offices dream of finding another Jose Bautista, the role player they pluck off the waiver wire or land in a minor trade who suddenly clicks. Those moments are incredibly rare, but there are levels of this. Lucas hasn’t just filled in and eaten some average-looking innings, he’s been a key piece of two wins. Yes, it’s April, but these games count just as much as the ones in September.

When the Blue Jays go shopping in the expensive aisle, they tend to hit far more than they miss. Just look at the veterans alongside Lucas on this pitching staff. The Blue Jays need to find more of these success stories, though, a “pleasant surprise,” as Schneider put it. Whether this lasts for another week or a few more months, he’s already had success. That mostly unnoticed waiver claim last season ended up mattering more than we ever expected.

“You hope it’s one of those feel-good stories, right?” Schneider said.

He’s off to a fine start. These two starts from Lucas are what front offices and pitching coaches spend thousands of hours on a year, because when they hit -- even if it’s just for a couple of weeks -- it can make all the difference.