The 2019 regular season for New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino is one he likely wants to forget. He missed most of the campaign due to injuries, but he now has the chance to send his team to the ALCS.
After the Yankees dominated the Minnesota Twins in the first two games of the ALDS, Severino is the probable starter for Game 3. As the Yankees hold a 2-0 lead over the Twins in the best-of-five series, Severino’s biggest start of the year comes on Monday night.
The 25-year-old ace of the staff was only able to make three starts during the regular season. All three came in the month of September following his long recovery from shoulder and lat injuries. For the most part, Severino was sharp. But it was all in preparation for a moment like Monday night.
With the chance to prove himself a worthy postseason starter, Severino can not only propel the Bronx Bombers to division-series sweep, but he can also instill some faith given his shaky numbers in the playoffs. There’s no denying his 6.26 ERA in six career starts is something to be mindful of.
The Dominican Republic native will be facing a Twins team hungry to change the narrative that has shadowed them. Following Saturday night’s loss, the Twins haven’t beaten the Yankees in a playoff game in 12 consecutive contests. They are returning home with their backs to the wall.
An offense that set the record with 307 home runs as a team in 2019 won’t go down easily. But Severino can begin to establish a new trend if he finds his dominant ways on the road Monday night. After a long season of rehabbing injuries to his throwing shoulder and lat muscle, this is when the games matter the most. This is when he can change the narrative.
Looking ahead to Monday night, it is no secret that Severino’s stuff will need to be strong. The Twins are notorious for crushing fastballs and while Severino’s fastball can get up there in the high-90s, he’s really going to have to work his changeup and slider in to keep Minnesota guessing. That means possibly early in counts and even doubling up at times.
The Yankees are knocking on the door of the ALCS and after a long season of rehabbing to get right, Severino can don the title as the ace of the staff by propelling the Bronx Bombers to a sweep.