Rookie southpaw Joey Lucchesi has raced out to a 1.72 ERA, 2.58 FIP and 3.14 xFIP through his first three career starts for the San Diego Padres. His last outing against the Colorado Rockies was an outstanding six-inning performance as he struck out eight, gave up four hits and walked just a single batter.
#Padres left-hander Joey Lucchesi set the tone tonight with this strikeout and then kept on cruising:
6 IP
4 H
2 R (0 ER)
1 BB
8 Ks
1.72 ERA through first 3 starts for @Padres' No. 9: https://t.co/eosjpYq3sj pic.twitter.com/0a5ujgBupJ
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 11, 2018
Two of Lucchesi's three starts this season have come against the struggling Rockies lineup, so that has to be taken into consideration. But the 24-year-old's run to start the season echoes what he did in the minors last year where, in nine Double-A starts, he pitched to 1.79 ERA and a 2.95 FIP, striking out 7.91 batters per nine while walking 2.09.
Unlike most of the other hurlers on this list, Lucchesi isn't a fireballer, averaging just 91.0 mph on his fastball through three starts. He's primarily a two-pitch pitcher, pairing his four-seamer with a change-up that he throws around 79 mph, with the occasional curveball mixed in.
Lucchesi's repertoire is akin to a young Cole Hamels, and fantasy owners should add him if he's free. But going out of your way to trade for him, at the moment, would be a tad premature.