JUPITER, Fla. — Luis Severino cannot proclaim himself back until the regular season hits, with spring results largely worthless.
But not entirely worthless.
After a brutal 2023 spring training with the Yankees bled into a brutal 2023 regular season, the Mets starter is beginning his spring season, at least, on a much different note.
Severino pitched three scoreless innings against the Marlins on Friday, his second straight encouraging start to begin the Grapefruit League.
He was a mess from the start last year, when he allowed 15 runs in 15 spring innings before posting a 6.65 ERA in the regular season.
“Every spring I feel really good,” Severino said after again feeling good and again looking good in a 3-1 win over the Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. “The problem is to maintain that. … I think we’re on a good path right now.”
Severino is hoping more than his jersey is different this season. Friday, he allowed three hits in his three frames and struck out four with a deep mix of pitches. His four-seamer touched 97 mph.
His changeup froze Josh Bell for his final strikeout. His slider — a different, harder one than the slider he threw last season as he toys with a different grip and different shape on the pitch — looked strong.
“The fact that he was throwing cutters at 94, 95,” manager Carlos Mendoza said, “it was good to see.”
Severino said he did not care much about the results, which have been five scoreless Grapefruit League innings thus far.
He is focused simply on working on his pitches, a process that is going well.
“It’s good that he’s getting results,” Mendoza said of Severino, who was signed to a one-year, $13 million pact. “But the most important thing is how he’s going to bounce back after each outing.
“So far he’s feeling good, and I’m excited to continue watching him pitch.”
The Mets cut six players from major league camp, the most notable a reliever who has made an impression.
Nate Lavender, a lefty who pitched two perfect innings with four strikeouts in the Grapefruit League, was reassigned to minor league camp. Thus ends a long-shot bid for the lefty to crack the Opening Day roster, with about a dozen relievers still competing for the final two spots in the bullpen.
The 24-year-old was almost certainly not going to make the team because the Mets can option him to the minor leagues without placing him on waivers, which is not the case for several other candidates.
But Lavender impressed with a heavy dosage of low-90s fastballs that consistently snuck by hitters, his long extension and release point showing why he rang up such high strikeout rates in the minor leagues.
“He’s got conviction,” Mendoza said. “He’s not afraid to attack hitters and that stood out. He’s got to go down now and continue to get ready for his season. I’m excited about him.”
Lavender likely will start his season at Triple-A Syracuse, with whom he struck out 67 in 44 innings last year.
The other roster moves: Outfielder Taylor Kohlwey and righty Chad Smith were reassigned, while outfielder Alex Ramírez was optioned to Double-A Binghamton and righty Grant Hartwig and lefty Josh Walker were optioned to Triple-A.
Joey Lucchesi is not concerned about not yet debuting in the Grapefruit League and feels as if he is on schedule.
The lefty arrived to camp “a little bit behind,” Mendoza said Thursday, which has prompted his build-up process to be a bit longer than other starters competing for rotation spots.
Lucchesi was expected to pitch in his first spring game Wednesday, but rain canceled the matchup with the Astros.
Instead, Lucchesi threw two approximated innings in an intrasquad game Thursday.
“I have my innings in,” Lucchesi said, even if those innings have not been in the Grapefruit League. “So I’m feeling pretty solid right now.”
Physically, Lucchesi said he feels “really, really good.” He is battling with frontrunner Tylor Megill and José Butto for the rotation spot vacated by the injured Kodai Senga.
Edwin Díaz faced four batters — the final one because he disposed of the first three quickly — in his second game on the back fields and “felt good,” according to Mendoza.
If Díaz bounces back well, he would debut in the Grapefruit League on Monday or Tuesday.
Jeff McNeil, who is not swinging after experiencing left biceps soreness last week, played five innings in the field and ran the bases in a minor league game.
McNeil is expected to resume swinging Saturday.
