CHICAGO — Luis Severino may have been disappointed to be removed from the starting lineup for the Subway Series, but it didn’t affect his performance Sunday night.
The Mets ace bounced back from a tough outing in Texas last week, pitching six scoreless innings and striking out a season-high 10 in a 5-2 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Severino was originally scheduled to play against his former team, the Yankees, on Tuesday.
But last weekend, manager Carlos Mendoza tweaked the rotation, moving David Peterson to the start of the Subway Series.
Severino started instead against the Cubs.
The reason given by manager Mendoza was that he wanted a right-handed pitcher for the Cubs game and a left-handed pitcher for the Yankees game.
Severino acknowledged to The Washington Post that he was “a little” disappointed not to face the Yankees this week and said he would try to be available to pitch in Game 2 of the Subway Series after the All-Star break in the Bronx.
Severino pitched until the sixth inning against the Cubs, but gave up a single to leadoff hitter Miguel Amaya and then hit Nico Hoerner.
After Michael Bush struck out, Severino engaged in a spectacular battle with Cody Bellinger and won.
Bellinger struck out on the 12th pitch of the at-bat.
“I heard the fans and I knew it wasn’t for me,” Severino said of the long at-bats, “but I love the atmosphere and the feeling. I love that type of game.”
Mendoza took to the mound and held off Severino, who was led off by Suzuki Seiya with the count at 2-0 before retiring the Cubs DH with a fly to center field.
Severino struck out 10 batters in total (his first double-digit strikeout total this season) and threw 102 pitches, allowing three hits but no walks.
Severino has primarily pitched for contact this season, but he took a different approach Sunday.
“I [Jose] Quintana and Sean Manaea [on Saturday] “I told them I need to strike out more,” Severino said. “I’m tired of being on the mound and striking out one guy.”
Severino continued to dominate against the Cubs this season.
On April 29, against the Mets at Citi Field, Severino pitched a no-hitter into the eighth inning before allowing one run on a single by Dansby Swanson, resulting in a no-decision for Severino and a 3-1 loss to the Mets.
