Versatile Sevy such a relief

The Yankees waited an extra three months for the return of Luis Severino.

It cost them the chance to have Severino bolster their rotation, but the righthander has given them the next-best thing: a versatile threat out of the bullpen.

Severino has been sharp in four relief outings since returning after a long road back from Tommy John surgery and two subsequent setbacks that resulted in more than 23 months between big league appearances. He has offered the Yankees a valuable weapon to unleash on opponents as they chase a playoff spot and more.

“I mean, I’m really happy about it,” manager Aaron

Boone said Friday before the Yankees hosted the Rays in the opener of the final series of the regular season. “Because of the long layoff, I guess technically you never know exactly. But I think he’s been preparing for this for a long time.

“Obviously he’s going to be a starter for us moving forward in the future, but I think he relishes pitching when it matters. These are obviously big games that he’s pitched in. But it has been encouraging to see him be as sharp as he is with all his pitches.”

Entering Friday, Severino had not allowed a run in four outings, which spanned six innings. He had given up just two hits — both in his debut — while walking one and striking out eight. Severino

initially got to ease into action, pitching with a sixrun lead in his first game back, but has taken on higher-leverage situations since in key games against the Red Sox and Blue Jays.

It is up for debate in which role Severino would have the most value for the Yankees: as a multi-inning reliever who would then need more time in between outings or a oneinning reliever who could be used more frequently in critical, late-inning spots.

Boone used Severino in two-inning stints for his first two appearances (with three days off in between), then in one-inning stints the past two outings (with only one day of rest in between).

“It just depends on how the games play out,” Boone said.