On Sunday, Jose Quintana pitched exceptionally well for the Mets, but Luis Severino outshined him the next day by nearly throwing a no-hitter against the Cubs. Severino took a no-hitter into the eighth inning before allowing a hit. Despite this, he only gave up one hit over 101 pitches before departing to a standing ovation from the crowd at Citi Field. The day quickly turned around for the Cubs, as they scored their first run after a mistake by Mets’ player Joey Wendle, who attempted a double play. Ultimately, a two-run homer by the Cubs’ Christopher Morel off Edwin Diaz resulted in a 3-1 loss for the Mets.
Manager Carlos Mendoza praised Severino’s performance, noting that he had rarely seen him pitch as well as he did against the Cubs. With a 2.31 ERA and three consecutive starts of at least six innings, Severino has become a reliable force in the Mets’ rotation while they wait for Kodai Senga’s return from injury. Senga threw live batting practice as part of his rehab, and the Mets will not have him back in action until at least late May. In the meantime, Severino, now 30 years old, is leading the charge and performing exceptionally well.
Severino himself commented on his change in approach to the game, shifting from seeking out strikeouts to focusing on getting batters out and pitching deep into games. Quintana had set a new standard for the Mets’ starting pitchers the day before by working into the eighth inning. Severino’s near no-hitter occurred exactly two years after the Mets’ last combined no-hitter. Edwin Diaz, reminiscing about his role in that game, was hopeful that Severino could achieve the same feat.
As Severino advanced through the game, his teammates and manager noticed his potential for a historic performance. After breezing through the seventh inning with just 10 pitches, the possibility of a no-hitter seemed within reach. However, the eighth inning began with Severino walking a batter before giving up a hit to break up the no-hitter. Despite his best efforts and good communication with catcher Tomas Nido, Severino could not prevent the hit. Diaz’s struggles in the ninth inning with a double and a two-run homer allowed dashed the Mets’ hopes of a memorable game.
Ultimately, the Mets experienced a disappointing loss after Severino’s strong pitching performance against the Cubs. Despite the team’s struggles, Severino has emerged as a key player in the rotation, bringing consistency and durability to the starting pitchers. The Mets are hopeful that Senga’s return will provide additional support, but until then, they are relying on Severino to lead the way on the mound. The game against the Cubs showcased Severino’s talent and potential for greatness moving forward.
