TORONTO — The Rise of Luis Severino
On a bright Wednesday afternoon in Toronto, Luis Severino wraps up his pregame ritual, which includes throwing and catching as he gears up for a crucial matchup on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies. This marks the 29th and perhaps most significant start of his season. Severino’s emergence as a dependable arm in the Mets’ rotation has played a pivotal role in establishing New York’s starting staff as one of the National League’s best, currently sitting sixth in ERA with just 16 games left in the season.
Severino is set to take the mound four times in those remaining games, facing formidable opponents: twice against the first-place Phillies, once against the rival Atlanta Braves, and potentially in the season finale against the top-ranked Milwaukee Brewers. His resurgence has made him a central figure in the Mets’ playoff aspirations, and he has been everything the team could have hoped for.
“I haven’t performed at this level in a long time,” Severino beams. “It feels fantastic. Competing at this level and staying healthy throughout the year is a blessing.”
To gain insight into Severino’s approach—before, during, and after games—The Athletic sat down with him, scorecard in hand, to dissect his recent outing against the Cincinnati Reds. In this game, Severino delivered a stellar performance over 6 2/3 innings, conceding just one run in a tough 3-1 loss, marking his 12th quality start of the season. This examination offers a glimpse into the veteran pitcher’s mindset at a critical juncture of the year.
Pregame Insights
Severino had previously faced the Reds early in the season on April 6, where he pitched five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits. His main takeaway from that outing was the two walks he issued, which he aimed to avoid this time around. “I remembered that I had walked more batters than I wanted,” he said.
His preparation involves extensive video analysis. “I focus on what they do well, what they struggle with, and look specifically at their last 10 at-bats against right-handers with similar arm angles to mine,” he explained. “I also analyze pitch sequences: what are they anticipating when they’re behind in the count?”
Severino often studies pitchers with comparable styles to refine his strategy. “For instance, I have the Phillies next. Edward Cabrera from Miami had a stellar outing against them recently—seven scoreless innings. His approach is similar to mine; he throws hard, has a changeup that acts like a sinker, and a good slider. I’ll examine what he did right and how he achieved that success,” Severino noted.
He then integrates his findings with insights from his catcher, Luis Torrens, to formulate a game plan. Cincinnati presents a specific challenge due to their aggressive base running. “They have a lot of speed. Almost everyone can run, so I need to be quick to the plate,” Severino acknowledged. “I prefer they hit the ball hard rather than giving away walks.”
First Inning
As the game begins, Severino faces Jonathan India, the leadoff hitter for the Reds. Starting with a fastball, followed by a sweeper and then a sinker, he establishes his repertoire early on. “I aim to send a message: don’t get too comfortable at the plate,” he explained. “By showcasing my sinker and sweeper right away, it changes their approach for subsequent at-bats.”
Severino catches India looking on a full-count sinker, bringing up Elly De La Cruz, a standout player likely to receive MVP votes in his rookie season. “He’s their key player,” Severino stated. “He’s capable of hitting for power and has great speed. We need to make quality pitches to him, especially on a full count. We can’t let him be the one who beats us.”
He succeeds in the first inning, retiring the side without any hits.
Second Inning
Severino starts the second inning strong, retiring Ty France and Jake Fraley on just one pitch each. With two outs, how does he approach Santiago Espinal? “I’m going after him immediately,” he said. “If the first two batters are out, I consider it an advantage and go for strikes.” Espinal takes a first-pitch fastball strike, fouls off the next, and ultimately strikes out on a sweeper. Severino has now faced six batters, throwing just 20 pitches.
Third Inning
In the third inning, Severino encounters Noelvi Marte, a hitter he’s never faced before. “Marte and France have similar approaches. I’ll target the inside of the plate, as the report indicates they struggle with off-speed pitches,” he said. Severino quickly gets ahead 0-2 with sinkers, then unleashes six consecutive sweepers, striking out Marte looking.
Next up is Will Benson, who previously tripled off Severino. “For a hitter like Benson, it’s less about how hard I can throw and more about where I place the pitch,” Severino explained. “He thrives on pitches down and in. If I hit my spots, especially up and away, it becomes difficult for him.” Benson earns a walk but is left stranded when Severino strikes out India, who is facing a runner in scoring position. Severino reaches back for more, clocking a 99.5 mph sinker—his fastest pitch of the season. India ultimately flies out on a 98 mph sinker. “When runners are in scoring position, I find a way to dig deeper and throw a bit harder,” Severino remarked, noting he averages nearly an additional mile per hour on his fastball in such scenarios.
Fourth Inning
As Severino approaches the fourth inning, he is now facing the Reds lineup for a second time. He introduces a changeup and a cutter to his mix, aiming to keep hitters off balance. “I want to show them something they haven’t seen before, especially against lefties,” he said. Severino walks De La Cruz on a full count, necessitating a quick pickoff throw to first base. “I typically have a fast delivery to home plate, but I need to be even quicker in this situation,” he acknowledged, knowing Torrens has a strong arm. De La Cruz attempts to steal but is caught stealing by Torrens, who has an impressive 13 of 20 runners thrown out this season.
“He was only in the minors for two months. How do you keep a talent like him down there?” Severino questioned. “He’s invaluable. I can focus on executing my pitches without worrying about the running game.” Severino then gets a pop-up from Spencer Steer and a comebacker from France, showcasing his command.
Fifth Inning
Severino encounters his first real challenge of the game in the fifth inning when Fraley leads off with a soft double, followed by a bloop single from Espinal. Despite the weak contact, Severino finds himself in a first-and-third situation with no outs. “It’s challenging,” he admitted. “I tell myself, ‘This happens; I need to compete.’ If I can escape this inning with just one run, I’ll consider that a victory.”
With Marte at the plate and a 2-2 count, the Mets call for a pickoff throw, which Severino executes flawlessly, catching Espinal for a crucial first out. “After that, I aimed for a strikeout to escape the inning unscathed,” he stated. Severino does just that, striking out Marte on a two-strike sweeper. Interestingly, while Severino’s overall strikeout rate is below league average, it spikes to over 26% with a runner on third and less than two outs.
Against Benson, Severino keeps his composure, recording two swings and misses on a sinker and a four-seam fastball to end the inning. “The sinker has been a game changer for me this year,” Severino remarked. “Hitters adjust quickly to velocity; hence, I prefer to rely on movement.”
Sixth Inning
As the sixth inning unfolds, Severino is now facing the Reds’ lineup for the third time. Historically, this is when he has been hit the hardest. He begins by retiring Maile, the ninth hitter, and is then faced with the challenge of India again. “Getting the first guy out is crucial,” he said. “If I can do that, I can focus on the key hitters coming up.” Severino strikes out Maile on a sweeper and then surprises India with a changeup, resulting in another swing-and-miss. This is the first changeup Severino has thrown India in their sixth encounter this year, catching him off guard.
Following a single by De La Cruz and a wild pickoff attempt that sails past Pete Alonso, Severino remains focused on getting the next out. “With two outs, I need to concentrate on this hitter, regardless of the situation,” he said. He ultimately secures a flyout to left field to escape the inning.
Seventh Inning
Heading into the seventh, the Mets finally break the deadlock with a two-out RBI single from Starling Marte. Now with a lead, Severino confronts the middle of the Reds’ order, having thrown 83 pitches. He starts off with another soft hit, a bloop from France that lands in shallow territory. The Mets narrowly miss turning a double play on Fraley’s grounder, who advances to second on a wild pitch. Severino faces Espinal, engaging in a challenging seven-pitch battle before striking him out with a fastball.
Despite the two soft hits, Severino is on the verge of completing seven shutout innings. Unfortunately, Marte loops a first-pitch sinker down the right-field line, scoring Fraley. “That inning felt unfortunate,” Severino reflected. “I executed a lot of good pitches, but some things are beyond my control. I focus on what I can manage.” After 97 pitches, Manager Carlos Mendoza decides to pull him from the game.
“As I walked back to the dugout in a tie game, I couldn’t help but think about what I could have done differently on that last pitch,” Severino admitted. “I could have opted for a slider, changeup, or fastball up and in. But ultimately, there’s nothing I can do about it now.”
Postgame Reflections
The Reds managed to rally for two more runs in the ninth inning, ultimately defeating the Mets and ending their nine-game winning streak. Severino’s final line revealed 6 2/3 innings pitched, allowing just one run on five hits—only one of which surpassed 80 mph in exit velocity—with eight strikeouts and two walks. “All I want is to give my team a chance to win,” Severino stated. “As a pitcher, that’s my primary goal. Competing and keeping the team in the game is what matters most.”
Throughout the season, Severino has consistently achieved that goal, allowing no more than two runs in 16 out of his 28 starts. As the Mets gear up for the final stretch, they continue to rely on Severino’s contributions. “I hope to maintain this momentum, keep pushing myself, and improving,” he concluded. “With any luck, we’ll make the playoffs, and I can continue to demonstrate what kind of pitcher I truly am.”
(Photo of Luis Severino: Noah K. Murray / Associated Press)
