Luis Severino believes it started last week in Toronto, but he's not sure who the catalyst was.
Someone in their rotation (Sean Manaea is a good guess) decided the Mets' rotation needed its own special celebration.
“We celebrate the hitters a lot,” Severino said after the series-opening 10-6 win over the Phillies at Citi Field on Thursday. “We (needed) to do something for the pitchers, too.”
And so a circle of jumps was formed.
After the starter is removed (almost always after a solid start these days), you join the rest of the group, arms around each other's shoulders, and bounce up and down for a few seconds.
“We need another sign,” Severino said with a laugh, the “OMG” sign reserved for home runs.
The Mets pitchers are having fun, and it's a lot easier to have fun when they're pitching like that.
Severino made his fourth quality start in four starts in September, a six-inning, three-run outing that actually represents a drop-off, considering how well he and the Mets' rotation have been performing.
After Severino's night, Mets starting pitchers have a 2.01 ERA in 17 September games, at best carrying the team and at worst keeping it in the game.
The most important month of the season has seen the biggest step forward for a Mets rotation that was merely passable before each member of the rotation found his groove.
No one has touched Manaea since mid-July.
Jose Quintana has a 0.28 ERA in his last five starts.
David Peterson's season ERA stands at 2.85.
Tylor Megill has pitched 12 innings without allowing an earned run in his last two starts.
“It's been unbelievable,” said Severino, who has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts, “we've been really strong the last month.”
In a game in which 16 runs were scored, Severino just needed to be solid.
He took a beating in the third inning when Kyle Schwarber's single and Trea Turner's fly ball to the second deck in left field tied the game.
The hard-hitting right-hander got into trouble again in the third when Brandon Marsh lined an RBI single over Mark Vientos' head.
But with two on base, Severino got Cal Stevenson to fly out.
The Mets' offense scored five runs in the bottom of the inning, which proved to be enough.
Severino held the Phillies scoreless until the sixth, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out seven.
“He had to fight,” said Carlos Mendoza. “As far as the plays, he was good, but they forced him to work… He found a way to give us six innings.”
And after 86 pitches, I had enough energy to jump with a group that is jumping.
