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BASEBALL

Luis Severino Looking To Bounce Back As The Yankees Go For The Sweep Of The Mets

Luis Severino who has been perfect for the Yankees this season stumbled in his last outing Saturday against their American League rival Boston who is leading the American League by 4 1/2 games over New York. 

He will look to bounce back in the finale in the Subway series as the Yankees take on the Mets Thursday in the finale at Citi Field. 

two of New York's young starting pitchers, with aspirations to pitch well in the Big Apple for the foreseeable future, will duel Thursday night on the Citi Field mound as the American League Wild Card-leading Yankees look to sweep the 2017 Subway Series from the Mets. Both Luis Severino and Steven Matz have captured their respective fan bases' adulation at different points in their young careers, but only one of them -- Severino -- is currently pitching up to expectations. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170816248914290/severino-yanks-go-for-subway-series-sweep/?game_pk=491908

Severino (9-5, 3.32 ERA) has established himself as a formidable starter at the top of the Yankees' rotation this year, even with the non-waiver Trade Deadline additions of Sonny Gray and Jaime Garcia. Severino saw his four-game winning streak snapped during his last start when he surrendered 10 runs (eight earned) in 4 1/3 innings against the first-place Red Sox, who are 4 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees in the AL East. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170816248914290/severino-yanks-go-for-subway-series-sweep/?game_pk=491908

"I think I was trying to pitch too perfect," Severino said after his last start. "I threw a couple of pitches right over there in the middle." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170816248914290/severino-yanks-go-for-subway-series-sweep/?game_pk=491908

During his winning streak, the right-hander posted a 0.70 ERA over 25 2/3 innings, while holding opponents to a .177 batting average and a .490 OPS. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170816248914290/severino-yanks-go-for-subway-series-sweep/?game_pk=491908

Meanwhile, Matz (2-6, 5.54 ERA), who missed the first two months of the season with an elbow injury, has slogged through his last seven starts, going 0-5 with a 9.51 ERA in that span. The left-hander pitched better during his most recent outing in Philadelphia, where he allowed only two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings but still took the loss. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170816248914290/severino-yanks-go-for-subway-series-sweep/?game_pk=491908

"I think he's continuing to learn what it takes to pitch when you're not 100 percent," Mets manager Terry Collins said before Wednesday's game. "I thought his last start was a big step forward for him. I saw a much better breaking ball out of him, one that had much better bite to it, depth to it." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170816248914290/severino-yanks-go-for-subway-series-sweep/?game_pk=491908

Among pitchers who have faced a minimum of 100 batters this season, Severino's average four-seam fastball velocity ranks eighth at 97.3 mph. The seven ahead of him on that list are all relievers. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170816248914290/severino-yanks-go-for-subway-series-sweep/?game_pk=491908

Among pitchers who have faced a minimum of 100 batters this season, Severino's average four-seam fastball velocity ranks eighth at 97.3 mph. The seven ahead of him on that list are all relievers. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170816248914290/severino-yanks-go-for-subway-series-sweep/?game_pk=491908

In 2016, Matz held opponents to a .391 slugging percentage on fastballs, with seven home runs. This season, Matz's fastballs have yielded a .545 slugging percentage and 10 homers, despite nearly 100 fewer batted balls. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170816248914290/severino-yanks-go-for-subway-series-sweep/?game_pk=491908

 Severino earned his first win of the 2016 season against the Mets when he pitched 4 1/3 innings of relief, allowing one unearned run on one hit and one walk, with five strikeouts. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170816248914290/severino-yanks-go-for-subway-series-sweep/?game_pk=491908

As for the Yankees and Mets last game, The Yankees beat the Mets in the opener at Citi Field Wednesday. 

It's pretty easy to get from the Bronx to Queens because all you have to do is take the subway. 

Wednesday night the series shifted to Citi Field In Queens as the Mets hosted the Yankees for the last two games of the series.

That was no problem for the Yankees offense as it picked up right where it left off at Yankee Stadium Tuesday. 

 Aaron Judge awed his teammates with one of the most impressive home runs in Citi Field history and Didi Gregorius delivered a tiebreaking hit to lead the Yankees past the Mets, 5-3, in Subway Series action on Wednesday evening. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

The rookie phenom immediately put his head down and began running the bases after his American League-leading 37th homer, a titanic fourth-inning blast off Robert Gsellman. Playing his first career game in Queens, Judge joined Yoenis Cespedes as the only players to reach the third deck in left field. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

"I've been feeling good every day," Judge said. "It's just about taking what you do in the cage and BP into the game. When you hit it and you kind of know you got one, you just run the bases. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

The Yankees (64-55) remained 4 1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the American League East. Boston (69-51) rallied for three runs in the ninth to beat the Cardinals, 5-4, at Fenway Park. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

Gregorius gave the Yanks the lead with a two-run double in the seventh off Paul Sewald, extending his road hitting streak to seven games. He reserved his raves for Judge, whose homer landed in the far-off Section 536, a projected 457 feet, according to Statcast™. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

"Every day he amazes me," Gregorius said. "He keeps hitting it further and further every time. It's unbelievable power, what he's got right there." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

"Every day he amazes me," Gregorius said. "He keeps hitting it further and further every time. It's unbelievable power, what he's got right there." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

Gsellman lasted 5 1/3 innings, permitting three runs (two earned). Chase Headley and Garrett Cooper also drove in runs for the Yanks. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

 Ronald Torreyes started the seventh with a double off Sewald and advanced on Brett Gardner's pinch-hit sacrifice bunt, preceding a walk to Jacoby Ellsbury. Aaron Hicks walked, bringing Judge up with the bases loaded. Sewald got the slugger to pop out, but Gregorius cashed the two-out hit, chasing home Torreyes and Ellsbury. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

"I was just looking for a fastball," Gregorius said. "This whole series, they've been throwing me changeups and they tried to switch it up on me. I was prepared for it." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

Collins' voice was hoarse from yelling during the game, and he insisted that home-plate umpire Chad Whitson missed a 3-2 pitch to Hicks. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

"I thought it was a strike," Collins said. "It put us in a tough situation. I thought it was strike three." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

Pressed into duty as the emergency third baseman after pregame injuries to Wilmer Flores and Jose Reyes, Travis d'Arnaud tied the game in the sixth by greeting Kahnle with a line drive to center field that brought home Cespedes on a sacrifice fly. The Mets moved d'Arnaud and second baseman, Asdrubal Cabrera, creatively back and forth all night, creating a mess of 2B and 3B changes throughout the box score. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

"Fortunately it worked out for us," Collins said. "That was all we had to work with today. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

"I wanted to make a diving play down the line or rob someone of a base hit, like people do to me." -- d'Arnaud, on playing third base "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

Judge struck out in the ninth inning against Erik Goeddel, marking the rookie slugger's 33rd consecutive game with a strikeout, establishing a new Major League single-season record for a non-pitcher. Judge surpassed Adam Dunn, who struck out in 32 straight games for the 2012 Reds. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

"There are good pitchers in this league. You're going to get fooled sometimes," Judge said. "They're going to get you. If I keep taking my right swings and swinging at the right pitches, good things will happen. People strike out. I strike out a lot. It happens. I've just got to keep working." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/

Flores and Reyes both went to the hospital before Wednesday's game to receive examinations on their rib-cage injuries. The Mets were not sure of the status of the two infielders late Wednesday but were flying Gavin Cecchini and Matt Reynolds to New York as roster insurance. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/248922430/didi-gregorius-aaron-judge-lead-yanks-to-win/ 

The Yankees improved to 64-55 with the win and now sits 4/1/2 back of their American League East rival Boston who is leading the division with a record of 69-51. 

The Subway Series will conclude tonight at Citi Field in Queens as the Yankees go for the sweep. 

Right -hander Luis Severino will be on the mound for the Yankees. He has a record of 9-5 with a 3.32 earn run average.  Severino picked an opportune time for his worst outing of the season surrendering 10 runs (8 earned) over 4/1/3 frames to the Redsox Saturday. He had been undefeated in four previous outings allowing one run or no earned runs in each of them. He will go up against Mets left -hander Steven Matz who has a record of 2-6 with a 5.54 earn run average. Though Mats believes he made strides last time out in a loss to the Phillies, He is 0-5 with a 9.51 earn run average his last seven starts. Yankee Stadium isn't the best place to fix things, Matz gave up six runs in six innings in his only previous start there. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-mets/2017/08/17/491908#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491908

First pitch is set for 7:10. The game will be televised on Major League Baseball Network and Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-mets/2017/08/17/491908#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491908

Will Luis Severino be able to return to the form he has had all season before he stumbled against Boston Saturday in the finale against the Mets at Citi Field? Will the offense be able to back his start and get their offense going against Mets left -hander Steven Matz? Will Didi Gregorius make an impact in the finale? Will Aaron Judge homer in the finale? Will the Mets offense be able to get their offense going against Luis Severino? 

First pitch is set for 7:10 pm. The game will be televised on Major League Baseball Network and Yes. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/yankees-vs-mets/2017/08/17/491908#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491908