News Every Day | 30 April 2024, 18:00

Luis Severino Dominant with No-Hit Stuff vs. Cubs

Before the Mets stranded the tying run on base in the ninth, the go-ahead homer by Christopher Morel off Edwin Díaz, and the Joey Wendle no-throw home, the story of the night was Luis Severino.

The righty was dealing, and for the majority of the night, there was a special feeling in the ballpark. Severino started by striking out two of the first three batters faced. Then, he sat down six more Cubs in a row with ease.

Severino was perfect through four innings of work, primarily tunneling his 96-mile-per-hour fastball with hard sliders and sweepers. The occasional sinker was in play too, which he used to induce two groundouts early in the game.

The perfect game buzz continued into the fourth inning. Severino worked quickly again, retiring the Cubs No. 1 and 2 hitters with only eight pitches. He was one out away from another 1-2-3 inning, and faced Ian Happ.

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Unfortunately, Severino lost the strike zone and walked Happ on five pitches, ending his bid for a perfect game. Still, the ballpark was on their feet, and Severino retired Morel with one pitch to retire the side.

Despite losing his perfect game bid, there was still history on the line. Severino had completed four no-hit innings for the second start in a row, and was working toward the Mets’ third no-hitter in franchise history, coincidentally on the anniversary of the second no-hitter in franchise history back in 2022.

And it wasn’t unrealistic for Severino either. He was mowing down the Cubs. Severino pitched perfect fifth and sixth innings, and after hitting Mike Tauchman to lead off the seventh, got a key double play to end the inning after Tauchman had a base running blunder.

The Mets starter was six outs away from glory and entered the eighth inning throwing only 79 pitches. Everything seemed right and the momentum was in the Mets’ favor. Sadly, Severino couldn’t finish the performance.

He walked Michael Busch to leadoff the eight, and then served up a broken-bat single to Dansby Swanson to end the no-hitter. Severino eventually finished the eighth inning for the Mets, but not before Busch came home to tie the game at 1-1.

While the performance will get lost in the loss, Severino was dominant yet again for the Mets. He pitched eight innings, allowing only one run and hit, and two walks. The righty also struck out five batters.

Sevy, 97mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/k38VRHYwsx

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 30, 2024

The start was easily the best of the season for Severino. He had ace-like stuff from the first pitch of the game, something he noticed in his bullpen before the 7:10 PM start time in Flushing.

“First pitch of the game,” Severino said on when he knew his stuff was special. “I was feeling good in the bullpen. Fastball, the command was outstanding, even the breaking pitches, the sweeper and the movement was really good too.”

The start lowered his ERA to 2.31 this season and was the third start this season where he allowed only one run. Monday’s start also marked the first time Severino pitched past the sixth inning in 2024, which he was able to reach without relying on the strikeout.

“I feel really good,” Severino told the media when asked if he was back to the pitcher he was. “I think before, when I was a little younger, I was thinking too much on striking everyone out. Right now I just focus on getting people out, getting deep into the game. So right now I think I’m in a different position right now. For me, it’s more important to throw innings than striking everybody out.”

While he might not be the ace that struck everyone out in the Bronx, Severino has undeniably been a hidden gem from last year’s free agent market. Outside his first start, he’s been spectacular for the Mets, and currently holds the 13th-best ERA among starters in the majors.

Tonight was an example of what Severino could be—an ace. And despite falling short of the no-hitter, the fans were on their feet and roaring for the righty after he allowed a weak single to Swanson.

“That’s the thing about New York. If you’re doing good, you’re gonna get something like that,” Severino said. “If you’re doing bad, you’re gonna get a lot of boos. They’re straight with you, and I like that kind of thing.”