Severino's strong spring start continues vs. Marlins

JUPITER, Fla. -- Mets right-hander Luis Severino had his best Spring Training outing to date on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. He pitched three scoreless innings, allowed three hits and struck out four in a 3-1 victory over the Marlins.

After allowing a leadoff double to Luis Arraez in the first inning, Severino retired the next seven hitters before allowing a one-out single to Christian Bethancourt. Severino then found himself in trouble after Arraez followed and singled to put runners on first and second with one out. But Severino was able to get out of the jam, striking out Josh Bell and inducing Jake Burger to ground out to end the inning.

“He was good. He was able to use all of his pitches,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “The fact that he was throwing cutters 94, 95 [miles an hour], it was good to see. The four-seam fastball was up to 97. He really threw a good changeup to Bell for a strikeout. Overall, a good outing.”

Severino has now pitched in two games this spring, tossing five shutout innings and striking out five.

Maybe the key to Friday’s game was having Severino throw to catcher Francisco Álvarez for the first time this spring. Mendoza wants to see the duo start having conversations about pitch selection, since Alvarez will get most of the playing time behind the plate.

“It was good. I think we need to work together more and get on the same page because I have 15 seconds to throw the ball,” Severino said. “Sometimes, I don’t want to throw the pitch. We just need to keep working. He is really good behind the plate.”

Mendoza said it will take some time for Severino and Alvarez to get on the same page.

“Communication is not only in the games, but they will also continue to have those conversations in between outings. Overall, the conversations between innings were really good [on Friday],” Mendoza said.