The New York Yankees are set to conclude a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays, followed by an anticipated Subway Series against the New York Mets next week. This series might have been a reunion with former Yankee Luis Severino, now a starter for the Mets.
Luis Severino’s Transition from Yankees to Mets
After struggling last season with the Yankees, where he posted a 6.65 ERA over 89.1 innings, Severino moved to the Mets this offseason. With the Mets, he has shown improvement, boasting a 3.78 ERA across 109.2 innings, along with maintaining a 71.2% left-on-base rate and a 48% ground ball rate. Despite his success, Severino did not pitch in the earlier season matchup against his former team.
Severino’s Comments Stoke Friendly Rivalry
Recently, Severino shared insights into the ongoing banter between him and his former teammates. “We have a group chat, the guys who’ve been through the Yankees and stayed with the Yankees. They talk s— about me, like, ‘You’re afraid of us,'” Severino said Friday. “I said, ‘I’m not afraid of you guys. Right now you only have two good hitters.’ I can walk those two guys. It’s always friendly competition with players I’ve already played with. It’s going to be fun, and hopefully in the future I can face them.”
Yankees’ Offensive Strategy and Severino’s Challenge
Severino pointed out that the Yankees’ offense currently leans heavily on Juan Soto and Aaron Judge. Judge is amidst another MVP-caliber season, and Soto kicked off the second half with a standout performance, further validating Severino’s observation. While these two stars are crucial, the Yankees’ overall offensive strategy will need to be comprehensive to capitalize fully on their lineup’s potential.
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Despite the playful challenges, it appears Severino will not pitch against the Yankees in the upcoming week, missing another chance to compete against his former team. This ongoing storyline adds a layer of anticipation to future matchups between Severino and the Yankees.