Severino playoff debut goes askew
Luis Severino had never pitched in a playoff game at any level before Tuesday night, and it showed in the Yankees’ 8-4 wildcard win over the Twins in The Bronx. The right-hander had a nightmarish performance, retiring only one of the six batters he faced and leaving with the Yankees down by three runs. Only the Yankees’ ability to come back against the hapless Twins and outstanding work from their bullpen saved Severino from an even worse night. “It was difficult,” Severino said. “I didn’t do my job. I couldn’t command my pitches. ... [Warming up] in the bullpen, I was awesome. My changeup and slider were working, but when I took the mound, I lost the feeling for them, and I paid for it.” He gave up a leadoff homer to Brian Dozier then, after a walk to Jorge Polanco and a visit from pitching coach Larry Rothschild, a tworun shot to Eddie Rosario to put the Yankees in a 3-0 hole in the first. Eduardo Es cobar followed with a single to center and Max Kepler a double to right — and that was it for Severino.
Just like that, the 23-year-old who emerged as the Yankees’ ace was gone and thanks to the comeback, Girardi and the Yankees have a decision to make: Do they bring back Severino early in the ALDS against Cleveland because he threw just 29 pitches or do they keep him on regular rest?
“I’m looking forward to pitching again,” Severino said. “It’s not gonna be the same.”
Severino said he could pitch again as soon as Thursday, and Girardi joked the same, but it remains to be seen when Severino will start.
Whatever option they go with, the Yankees will need Severino to put this outing behind him and hope that it can be chalked up to the nerves of pitching in his first postseason game.
He had no command of his off-speed pitches and his fastball wasn’t much better. He didn’t elevate a 3-1 fastball enough to Dozier, who hit it out to left to immediately silence the Stadium crowd. Severino hung a slider to Rosario, who lined it into the seats in right.
Severino also went to three balls on three of the six batters he faced before being removed for Chad Green.
“He wasn’t hitting any of his spots,” Girardi said. “We haven’t seen that all year from him.”
Girardi didn’t waste any time in removing Severino, who had given up fewer than three runs in 11 of his previous 14 outings.
It was Green’s performance that saved Severino from having even a worse night. He came on to strand Severino’s runners by striking out Byron Buxton and Jason Castro.
“When you’re in a situation like this, you give the ball to the guy who’s been your best all year,” general manager Brian Cashman had said before the game. “He’s earned the right, he’s earned the trust. Obviously, Joe’s got a lot of choices behind him.”
It’s a good thing he did.