A regular in New York news, after two playoff starts on the road, Luis Severino will finally get the ball for a playoff start at Citi Field on Wednesday night when the NLCS moves to New York. When you look at how the right-hander has pitched at home this season, it appears the Mets made the right choice in keeping him for Game 3.
The former Yankees ace is 7-2 with a 2.96 ERA in 16 starts at Citi Field this year. He flirted with two hits in front of a home crowd and pitched into games regularly, endearing himself to the Flushing faithful.
“I haven’t even thought about the numbers since I saw him a few weeks ago, I didn’t realize I was throwing better at home than on the road,” Severino said Tuesday at Citi Field . “I don’t know. It feels like home, I feel more comfortable, you can do your whole routine. But there are a lot of things that we have here that we don’t have on the road . But there is nothing I can report [to]. Like I said, it’s only for that. So just being home and being in New York.
The signings of Severino and left-hander Sean Manaea proved to be among the best for president of baseball operations David Stearns. The executive largely targeted players who played in large markets and also pitched in the postseason. Right-handed relievers Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek fit that profile, as do JD Martinez and Jose Iglesias.
It helps that in tense moments of the playoffs, the Mets have veterans who know who to handle in crucial moments to complement and support the relatively new players in the playoffs.
“I kind of know what to expect in the playoffs and I’ve been through that quite a bit,” Stanek said after Game 2 in Los Angeles. “It’s about being able to control certain emotions and understand the work at hand, without really trying to do more than that. It’s about understanding where you are and where the ball game is, and if a situation arises where you have a lead, you put your foot on the gas and off you go.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have a team filled with playoff veterans and World Series winners. They know what it takes to win, even without pitchers like Clayton Kershaw available this month.
Severino will take inspiration from another playoff veteran when determining how to attack one of baseball’s toughest lineups. Yu Darvish, the Dodger-turned-Padre, held them to three earned runs in 13 2/3 innings in the Wild Card round, so Severino will be watching film to see exactly what the 38-year-old right-hander did against them. , especially when it came to bringing out Shohei Ohtani.
“Of course, Darvish has about 10 different pitches, so it will be difficult, but I can learn something,” Severino said.
The playoff veterans shined alongside the playoff newcomers. Severino is responsible for getting things done.
“Sevy has to be himself,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He has to stick to his strengths, attack and have a good idea of the game situation. If we need to make adjustments, we will. But I just want Sevy to be himself and go out there and execute.
LINDOR SNOBE
Francisco Lindor was snubbed by the league and fans for the All-Star Game this summer, and now he’s being snubbed again, this time by managers and coaches. The shortstop was not among the Gold Glove finalists when Rawlings released the list Tuesday afternoon. Dansby Swanson, Ezequiel Tovar and Masyn Winn were named NL finalists, although Lindor had better stats than the latter two.
Swanson led all shortstops in strikeouts above average (18) while Lindor wasn’t far behind, second in the league with an OAA of 16. He prevented 12 runs this season, also the second-best number among all shortstops behind Swanson.
“If you ask him, he will tell you that he is not here to gain personal rewards; he’s here to win it all – the World Series,” Mendoza said. “That’s his goal. He’s an elite defender. I was shocked he wasn’t even in the final.
FIRST PITCH LIST
The Mets have left-hander Jose Quintana lined up to pitch Game 4. They also have an All-Star team throwing out ceremonial first pitches for all three home games.
Members of the 1986 World Series team, Darry Strawberry and Dwight “Doc” Gooden, will form a battery for Game 1, with Strawberry, a former outfielder, throwing out the first pitch to Dr. K before Game 3. Game 4 will feature 2000 NLCS champion Robin Ventura throwing to his former teammate and Mets Hall of Famer Edgardo Alfonzo.
On Friday, Matt Harvey will pitch to Yoenis Cespedes, both members of the 2015 NL pennant-winning team.
