Yankees lineup responds to insult by Mets pitcher by practically proving him correct

When the New York Mets and New York Yankees play each other next week, there’s going to be a little extra fire thanks to a now public group chat. Mets pitcher Luis Severino was told by fellow Yankees he is afraid of them because for the second time this year, he will not face them.

The last time around, the Mets bumped Severino up in the rotation to face the Chicago Cubs on Sunday Night Baseball. A game more remembered for Edwin Diaz’s ejection, this time around Severino will miss the Yankees for a more reasonable cause. He’d either have to slot in as the first pitcher out of the All-Star Break or the fifth. The Mets decided to go with Sean Manaea instead on Friday with Severino on Saturday versus the Miami Marlins.

The bigger story was Severino’s response back. A dose of reality for the Yankees, he fired back claiming them only have two good hitters in the lineup.

The Yankees lineup was almost as much a two-man band as Luis Severino said in their first game of the second-half.

How did the Yankees lineup respond to the criticism from their former teammate? In a game against the Tampa Bay Rays, they won 6-1. Among their 9 hits, 6 came off the bat of the perceived two good hitters in their lineup, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.

Anthony Volpe who had one point this year was hitting extremely well picked up 2 more hits while driving in 3. Severino’s tongue-in-cheek yet brutally honest assessment of the Yankees lineup almost held true as it was those three who provided nearly all of the team’s offense.

The Yankees are likely to make the postseason but it won’t be because of their bats. Yesterday’s lineup featured six players with an OPS under .700. Ben Rice, who is less than 100 plate appearances into his MLB career, is the third alongside Soto and Judge.

Severino was certainly not trying to be cruel with his statement. The facts are facts and it was backed up, almost, hours after his message leaked.