Ranking the Mets starting pitcher depth chart behind the starting 5

2) Joey Lucchesi

Joey Lucchesi's Mets tenure got off to a rough start but he posted a 1.19 ERA in his last five starts in the 2021 season before needing Tommy John Surgery. That knocked him out for not only the remainder of that season but for the entire 2022 season, making him somewhat of a forgotten man in the minds of Mets fans.

Lucchesi stuck around with the Mets and had four different stints with the MLB team in 2023. He never quite stuck but he certainly pitched well enough to, posting a 2.89 ERA in 46.2 innings pitched on the year. He had a pair of dominant outings in San Francisco and against the Diamondbacks which saw him get through seven innings without allowing a single earned run, showing that he can compete at this level.

The stuff isn't anything to write home about, but he's fun to watch with his "churve" and funky wind-up, and the results were certainly good enough for him to warrant more of a look in the 2024 season.

The 30-year-old has had success primarily as a starting pitcher but has also pitched out of the bullpen in his MLB career. He feels like a solid option to succeed in either role. Thanks to his efforts this past season and his time in San Diego, Lucchesi has shown enough to slot ahead of Megill, but not quite enough to be at the top of this list.