The first Subway Series of the 2024 season had not even concluded and Luis Severino was itching to pitch in the upcoming July rematch.
The start was given and quickly taken away from the former Yankee of eight seasons, who was originally set to face his former team Tuesday, but Mets manager Carlos Mendoza changed the rotation Monday.
Severino revealed he received a few teasing messages from his former teammates saying, “Are you afraid of us?”
Severino made clear he wasn’t dodging anybody and wants a start in the next Subway Series, set for July 23-24 at Yankee Stadium.
“I’ve got to do everything in my power to make that happen,” Severino said prior to Wednesday night’s game.
He also is eager to face Aaron Judge, who previously admitted he’d “rather not face” Severino.
“He’s really hot right now,” Severino said about Judge. “I like to compete so it would be really, really fun to face him. Like I said, we have another opportunity going to the Yankees.”
David Peterson took Severino’s spot in the rotation Tuesday and helped deliver a 9-7 Mets, two days after Severino snared a win against the Cubs, allowing no runs and just three hits across six innings.
“It feels good,” Severino said of landing the first punch against his former club. “(Tuesday), it was a big game for us facing the Yankees. I mean, they’re a great team. They’ve been really hot this year so coming in here, facing them and having a game like that is really good for us.”
It likely doesn’t feel as good from the dugout.
Toward the end of his time in The Bronx, Severino had a difficult time staying healthy and that, combined with his diminishing performance, sent him to the Mets in free agency.
“There’s no hard feelings,” Severino said. “I love the Yankees. I love the guys out there and I’m here because they gave me the opportunity to be somebody.”
Before Wednesday’s game, the 30-year-old two-time All-Star greeted a few of his former teammates, who could be seen admiring his new beard.
That, he said, was the biggest difference on the other side of the tracks.
