"Add it all up" - Aaron Boone fires back at Luis Severino's "only two good hitters" dig at Yankees ahead of Subway Series

Things are heating up between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets as the arch-rivals edge closer to a Subway Series starting Tuesday next week. Mets pitcher Luis Severino fired shots at his former team ahead of the series at Yankee Stadium.

Severino crossed the divide in the past offseason after a nine-year stint with the Yankees. He signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the Mets last year. However, the veteran pitcher won't be facing his former side in the upcoming two-game series.

Despite moving on from the Yankees, the two-time All-Star is in contact with several former players and shared being called "afraid" of facing the Yankees in a group chat. But the 30-year-old did not budge, firing shots at his former team.

“I’m not afraid of those guys. ‘Right now you only have two good hitters,’ ” Severino said. “It’s always a friendly competition.”

Severino's comments were most likely aimed at the Bronx Bombers' hitting struggles beyond those of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. Yankees manager Aaron Boone had a few pointed words for his former ace following the team's 6-1 win over the Rays on Friday.

“We’ll see where the dust settles when we’re all said and done,’’ Boone said. “Add it all up, and we’ve taken our lumps at times, but I think we’re at the top of the league — probably — in runs scored. I saw the way [Severino] said it. … Hopefully, we can answer him.”

Luis Severino also missed the series at Citi Field earlier this season and Jose Quintana and Sean Manaea are scheduled to face the Yankees next week.

Luis Severino gives reason behind his potential exclusion from Yankees series

According to the former Yankees pitcher, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza is reluctant to line right-handed pitchers against the Bronx Bombers. Severino notes the Yankees' struggles against lefty pitching this season.

“For some reason the Yankees are not too good against lefties this year,” Severino said. “You only have to walk Judge and after that it will be better. But I understand the logic of lefties because you know Soto hits lefty, [Alex] Verdugo hits lefty and Judge is the only right-hander that hits lefties, so I understand the logic.”

However, the Mets will have to push Jose Quintana's start, who will miss Sunday's game against the Miami Marlins due to sickness. Left-handed pitcher David Peterson is likely to replace Quintana for the Subway Series.