Yankees vs. Mets: Luis Severino vs. Seth Lugo

The Yankees head into Sunday night’s action with a 42-18 record and boast a MLB-leading .700 winning percentage. They lead the Red Sox by one game in the AL East race.

This marks only the ninth time in franchise history that the Bombers have won 42 games before suffering 19 defeats. The club previously accomplished the feat from 1926 through 1928, and in 1932, 1939, 1942, 1953, and 1998. So the Yankees are off to their best start ever — excepting a handful of seasons which featured Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, and the Core Four. What an incredible accomplishment by the current squad! Incidentally, the Yankees won the World Series each of those years, except for 1926 and 1942, when they lost the Fall Classic to the Cardinals.

Tonight, the Yankees seek to sweep the three-game series against their crosstown rivals and notch their fifth straight victory. Luis Severino (9-1, 2.20 ERA) faces off against Seth Lugo (1-1, 2.04 ERA).

Pitching matchup

In his last start, Severino pitched eight innings during the first game of Monday’s doubleheader against the Tigers in Detroit. He gave up one earned run on four hits while walking none and striking out 10 to win his seventh straight decision.

The Bombers are 12-1 this season in games started by Severino. The 24-year-old has produced 11 quality starts, while giving up three runs or fewer in 12 of his 13 outings. The Yankees ace has allowed two runs or fewer 10 times this year.

Severino has made one career start against the Mets at Citi Field. Last August 17th, the right-hander allowed one unearned run on four hits while walking three and striking out nine over 6 1/3 innings. The effort earned Severino his 10th victory of the season. Tonight, Sevy seeks to join defending Cy Young Award winners Corey Kluber and Max Scherzer as MLB’s only 10-game winners.

Seth Lugo has appeared in 22 games for the Mets this season, with all but one coming in relief. His lone start came on May 31st against the Cubs. Lugo hurled four shutout innings and threw a season-high 60 pitches. He followed that effort with three scoreless innings of relief work against Baltimore on June 5th.

The 28-year-old has 27 career starts under his belt, only 12 of which were quality starts. The right-hander has only appeared in one game versus the Yankees. In August of 2016 at Citi Field, he entered the game in the 10th inning with the score knotted at five and coughed up the game-winning run.

Lineups

How to watch

Location: Citi Field, Flushing, NY

First pitch: 8:05 PM EDT

TV channel: ESPN

Online streaming: ESPN (subscribers only)

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (full listings)

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