After flirting with a no-hit bid against the Cubs, Mets right-hander Luis Severino seems to have found his old form.
For seven innings, Luis Severino was unhittable. Making his sixth start with the New York Mets, Severino held the Cubs hitless Monday before Dansby Swanson’s eighth-inning single. Until then, Chicago’s only base runner was Ian Happ, who reached on a walk and a hit-by-pitch.
Severino signed a one-year, $13-million contract with the Mets after spending eight years with the Yankees in the Bronx. The 29-year-old broke out in 2017, earning his first All-Star selection and finishing third in Cy Young voting. The following year, he had a similar season, pitching to a 3.39 ERA with 220 strikeouts over 32 starts. Severino has since been plagued with injuries and hasn’t played an entire season in five years.
Luis Severino Is Returning To Form With The Mets
Severino received a standing ovation from the crowd at Citi Field as he walked off the fielder after the eighth. His final line Monday included five strikeouts, two walks, and one hit over eight innings and 101 pitches (61 strikes).
“That’s the thing about New York: If you’re doing good, you will get something like that. If you’re doing bad, you’re going to get a lot of boos,” Severino said. “So, I know they’re straight to you, and I like that kind of thing about the fans. So, every time I go out there and I do my job, it’s going to be like that.”
It was the right-hander’s longest outing since throwing eight innings against Tampa Bay with the Yankees in 2018. Severino also matched the longest no-hit bid of his career—seven innings against the Texas Rangers in 2022.
“That’s probably as good as I’ve seen him, especially using his fastball,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. Mendoza was a coach for the Yankees during Severino’s time in the Bronx before becoming the Mets skipper.
Coming off the worst season of his career, Severino seems to have found his form with the Mets. After posting a 6.65 ERA last season, he’s pitched to a 2.31 ERA in six starts in Queens.
Main Photo Credits: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
