New York Mets starting pitcher Luis Severino is looking forward to competing against the New York Yankees, his former team, which sparked some back-and-forth banter.
Both New York clubs are set to face off in a brief two-game Subway Series starting next Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. Aware of the upcoming reunion, Severino became the subject of trash talk from a few ex-Yankees teammates once it was discovered that the 30-year-old wouldn’t be taking the mound in the Bronx. But rather than taking the high road, Severino chose to not hold back one bit when responding.
“We have a group chat and we always talk, the guys who’ve been through the Yankees and still with the Yankees,” Severino told reporters Friday, per SNY. “They talk (expletive) about me. When it’s the Yankees like, ‘Oh you afraid of us.’ But I said, ‘I’m not afraid. You guys, right now, you 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.”
The Mets instead elected to pitch Severino in their weekend series against the Miami Marlins, scheduling him to take the mound Saturday evening at loanDepot Park. That shuffling of the rotation allowed the Mets to reserve left-hander Jose Quintana for the first matchup with the Yankees next week.
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During the first Subway Series this season, the Mets pitched southpaw hurlers Sean Manaea and David Peterson, leaving Severino to watch from the dugout.
It’s a wise move. The Yankees have recorded an MLB-leading .773 OPS when facing right-handed pitchers this season, however, it dips significantly to .702, which ranks 18th in baseball, when the lineup goes toe-to-toe against lefties.
For now, the battle for bragging rights between Severino, who’s gone 6-3 with a 3.78 ERA thus far, and the Yankees will remain on hold.
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Featured image via Gregory Fisher/USA TODAY Sports Images
