Although it’s coming in September, the New York Yankees couldn’t have asked for a better season debut from Luis Severino.
New York Yankees fans can take a deep breath. Starting pitching continues to be one of the team’s biggest question marks, but Luis Severino could be the solution.
The fiery right-hander struck out four and held the Los Angeles Angels scoreless through four innings of work. He allowed two hits and two walks on 67 pitches.
Severino allowed the first two batters of the game to reach safely, but with runners at first and third, he was able to induce a tailor-made double play with Albert Pujols at-bat.
The 25-year-old reached 99 mph on the gun and had some solid bite on his slider. He hung a few sliders but wasn’t punished by the Angels hitters.
Back-to-back strikeouts to end the top of the 2nd. Topping out at 98.3 on his fastball (so far) ? #SevySeason has arrived. pic.twitter.com/9TsxY093u9
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 17, 2019
Luis Severino is so good pic.twitter.com/AfBVkHo1rW
— Big Baby David (@BigBabyDavid_) September 17, 2019
How his body bounces back from this start should tell the Yankees a lot about how they can use Severino going forward.
It’s still unclear exactly how the Yankees plan to use Severino if he can stay healthy enough for the postseason. He is obviously a starter in a normal season, but it’s possible that the Yankees deploy Severino creatively when push comes to shove.
By the time Jonathan Loaisiga had come on in relief of Severino, this game was already in hand. A six-run bottom of the fourth put the Angels away early. The big blow came on a three-run home run from Gleyber Torres, his 38th of the season.
That dinger puts the Yankees in prime position to secure their 99th win of the season and it’s one game closer to the team’s first AL East title since 2012.
