At first glance, this version of Luis Severino didn’t look much different from last year’s version. As he gave up the most hits (11) that any Mets pitcher has ever given up in a debut, you could hear the “I told you so” grumbles from those who thought the veteran right-hander was finished.
Regardless of what you think about the Mets investing in their minor-league pitching and building a pitching lab, the major-league results have been a mixed bag up until now. So skepticism was warranted, especially after the year Severino was coming off.
Photo by Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
While it would be presumptuous to assume that Severino was tipping his pitches, the Milwaukee Brewers were on anything and everything. He wasn’t missing bats, and he wasn’t fooling anyone.
As it turns out, the sweeper that Severino had seemed to master throughout spring training wasn’t the sweeper he was throwing during an impressive spring training. He lost his grip, and now he’s found it again.
A few weeks can make a difference for everyone. The Mets, who started 0-5, are now 10-8. Severino, who began his career in Flushing with a clunker of an outing, helped New York cap off a sweep of the Pirates on Wednesday. He allowed one run (zero earned) on five hits in six innings pitched while striking out four and walking three.
Severino found himself in trouble in almost every inning, but he worked out of it. It just wasn’t something he could do in Game 2 of the season. Granted, not every outing will be the same. Mets fans are accustomed to this, and Sean Manaea, who entered last Saturday’s game against the Royals with a 0.82 ERA, is now sitting at 4.30.
The season is fluid; things change. But things have changed for the better for Serveino, who looks to be cementing himself as a reliable option in New York’s patchwork rotation of established veterans and young guns trying to make a name for themselves.
Severino’s 4-seam fastball was working for him on Wednesday, but as pointed out below, it lived in the heart of the zone. He wasn’t punished for it. Maybe by another team, he would be. But the results are the results, and he was effective and got outs when needed.
Luis Severino had an effective, albeit wild, start today as he shut out the Pirate over 6.0 IP with 5 H, 4 K, and 3 BB and a 64 Strike%
His 4-Seam looked better today, but it lived in the heart of the zone. Fortunately, Pirate bats didn't punish him. pic.twitter.com/hpYtqRwt9G
— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) April 17, 2024
As SNY’s John Harper pointed out, Severino said he focused on improving his four-seam fastball’s “ride” during the offseason. This comes after batters hit a high average (.311) against his fastball last season. Severino emphasized that the pitch’s trajectory is more crucial than just throwing hard. He’s working on staying on top of the ball during his delivery, which generates more spin and allows the pitch to rise late in its flight path toward the top of the strike zone.
The key for Severino will be finding the right balance between locating his fastball and keeping it out of the heart of the zone. If he can do that, he can be a force on the mound.
Severino hasn’t been lights-out, but he’s been a gamer. He’s fought through some control issues in his recent starts, but importantly, he’s kept the Mets in contention each time. That’s all you can ask for from a pitcher, especially considering the pre-season worries about the Mets’ pitching staff.
Severino’s ERA sat at a hefty 5.40 a few weeks ago after a rough debut. After battling through early struggles and rediscovering his grip, he’s down to 2.14. This is the kind of turnaround the Mets were hoping for when they invested in the veteran righty, and it bodes well for their pitching staff moving forward.
He’s proven that he’s a gamer who can bounce back from adversity. And for the Mets’ sake, they need to hope that continues.
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