SEVERINO TO START OPENER
Yanks call in young ace to start Opening Day
LAKELAND, Fla. — Severino Time arrives March 29 in Toronto.
Aaron Boone on Saturday announced the 24-year-old righthander is the Yankees’ Opening Day starter against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
“I just felt like it’s his time for it,’’ Boone said of Severino getting the prestigious assignment. “What he was able to do last year, we feel he is in a really good place. We just felt like now is the time for him to take on that role we believe he is ready for. Looking forward to seeing him continue to grow in his role as one of the aces of this staff.’’
Severino, who went 14-6 with a 2.98 ERA in 31 starts last year when he was an All-Star, finished third in the AL Cy Young race and had an up-and-down postseason, was very appreciative about starting the first game of a season in which the Yankees are expected to be serious World Series contenders.
“This is such an honor, something I’ve been working for my entire life,’’ Severino told The Post at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “I called my wife first and then my agent. I am so happy. We have a lot of great guys here like CC [Sabathia] and [Masahiro] Tanaka, and to be named the first starter is amazing.’’
Tanaka, who has started the past three Opening Day games, will follow Severino. Sabathia, who pitched the first game of the season for the Yankees from 2009-14 and has made 11 Opening Day starts, works the third game and Sonny Gray the fourth. Second-year lefty Jordan Montgomery will start the home opener on April 2 against the Rays.
After getting spanked by the Twins in the AL wild-card game last fall, when he was bailed out by the Yankees’ lineup, Severino made one start in the ALDS against the Indians and two against the Astros in the ALCS. In four postseason outings Severino worked 16 innings, went 1-1, allowed 13 hits, walked eight, fanned a dozen and posted a 5.63 ERA.
“I’ve just been through the playoffs, and I think this is going to be the same atmosphere. I’m just going to try to approach this start the same way. I’m not going to try to do too much,’’ Severino said. “I’m going to just try to do the same as any start, but this one is so special for me and my family.
“To be in the playoffs and to finish great there, this is all part of it, the next step. In a way it’s like continuing in the playoffs with the Opening Day atmosphere. It’s going to be such a fun game, fun day, and we’re going to see what we can do. I’m excited.’’
Tanaka’s worst year of his four with the Yankees was last season, when he went 13-12 with a 4.74 ERA in 30 starts. He did rebound in the postseason when he posted a 2-1 record and a microscopic 0.90 ERA in three starts.
Saturday against the Tigers, Tanaka gave up four runs and four hits (two homers) in 2 2/3 innings when he walked one and fired two wild pitches. It was Tanaka’s third start of the exhibition season.
“I tried to make it simple, get in better counts and attack, but I wasn’t able to do that,’’ said Tanaka, who explained he will get one more exhibition start before the season opens.
Like the other starters, Boone talked to Tanaka about Opening Day.
“We spoke with all of them and [Tanaka] was the first conversation we had,’’ Boone said. “I think everyone, all five guys, were on board and certainly understood the direction that we went.’’
Tanaka heavily endorsed Severino for the Opening Day gig.
“It’s well deserved. Everybody knows how he pitched last season and he is the guy who should start the first game of the season,’’ Tanaka said of Severino.
Boone said Tanaka not pitching well in three Opening Day starts (0-2 with a 9.49 ERA) had nothing to do with choosing Severino this time.
“No, didn’t bother me at all. I’m going to always feel good about giving the ball to Masa in any scenario,’’ Boone said. “That didn’t factor in at all. This is more about we just feel like it’s Sevy’s time to have that.’’