Luis Severino had a long career with the New York Yankees, signing with them in 2011 out of the Dominican Republic. Debuting in 2015, he earned All-Star nods in 2017 and 2018.
After a successful stint, Severino faced challenges in 2023 and entered free agency before the 2024 season.
Leaving the Yankees after the 2023 season, Severino inked a one-year, $13 million deal with cross-town rivals, the New York Mets.
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In his first year with the Mets, Severino has performed well, boasting a 6-3 record and a 3.78 ERA in 18 starts. Despite a planned match against the Yankees, scheduling changes in late June kept him from facing his former team.
The upcoming series between the Yankees and Mets at Yankee Stadium will see Severino absent from the pitcher’s mound once more.
Speaking ahead of the series, Severino, set to pitch against the Miami Marlins just before facing the Yankees, shared a light moment with reporters. He revealed banter in a group chat with his former Yankees teammates who teased him for not pitching against them, suggesting he was avoiding them. Severino playfully responded.
“They teased me for not facing the Yankees last month,” Severino stated. “‘Oh, you’re scared of us.’ I said, I’m not scared. Right now, you only have two standout hitters.”
Severino cheekily commented on the Yankees’ reliance on their top hitters. Apart from Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, he pointed out a lack of consistent performance from other Yankee batters.
Across the league, Severino isn’t the only one noticing this trend. Teams find facing the Yankees easier outside of the standout duo.
As the Yankees enter the post-All-Star break with hopes of improved performance, the return of Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo, along with expectations on Anthony Volpe and Alex Verdugo’s resurgence, will be crucial.
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Meanwhile, the Mets aim to maintain their positive momentum in the second half of the season, continuing their midseason turnaround.