New York Yankees: Luis Severino Making Most Of Relieving

By Kenneth Teape | Sep 4, 2016

Aug 14, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino (40) pitches during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Yankees pitcher Luis Severino is making the most of his time in the bullpen after struggling as a starter earlier in the season.

The New York Yankees are still battling for a playoff spot despite being written off at the trade deadline. The Yankees decided to be sellers, moving veterans such as Carlos Beltran, Aroldis Chapman, and Andrew Miller to upgrade their farm system. As a result, many people thought the Yankees would mail in the remainder of the 2016 season.

The Yankees decided to make a concerted effort to give playing time to their youngsters. The results have been nothing what anyone expected, as the Yankees have remained in the Wild Card race. Gary Sanchez has led the charge along with Starlin Castro and Didi Gregorius in the lineup.

Sanchez is coming off an outstanding August, taking home Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month awards for the American League. While Sanchez is performing about as well as the Yankees could have hoped, another one of their youngsters, Luis Severino, has struggled this season.

Severino burst onto the scene last summer and helped push the Yankees into the Wild Card game. Severino was a top prospect and showed why in his first taste of the big leagues. He compiled a record of 5-3 last season with an ERA of 2.89 and WHIP of 1.20. He made 11 starts, pitching 62 1/3 innings with 56 strikeouts.

More from New York Yankees

With such a strong debut, Severino looked to be the only sure thing in the Yankees rotation coming into the season. The veterans had question marks and health issues, but Severino was expected to be the rock. But, his sophomore season fell woefully short of expectations.

Severino got crushed essentially every time he took the mound as a starter this season. In nine starts, Severino had a record of 0-8, pitching to an ERA of 8.58 and WHIP of 1.74 in 43 innings. Hitters were having a field day at the plate against him, as opponents slashed .340/.380/.596; that is essentially facing off against a lineup that has Daniel Murphy batting one-through-nine.

To put it nicely, Severino has not been good this season as a starter. But, he is undoubtedly talented and someone the Yankees need to make a postseason push, and he has found a way to help as a relief pitcher.

While Severino has been crushed as a starter, he has excelled as a reliever this season. He has made five appearances out of the bullpen, Severino has fired 11 1/3 innings allowing only one run; the only run he has allowed came against the New York Mets and it was unearned.

While his walk and strikeout ratios are essentially the same, Severino has kept lineups at bay by limiting hits. In the 11 1/3 innings, he has surrendered only one hit and a slash line of .034/.125/.034 (Slash line is prior to today’s game against the Baltimore Orioles); a slash line even Jon Lester, one of the worst hitting pitchers in baseball, tops with ease.

Severino has proved to be a useful commodity for the Yankees despite his struggles as a starter this season. The Yankees bullpen hasn’t been great since trading away studs Chapman and Miller, but Severino is helping bridge the gap to Dellin Betances in the ninth inning.

Next: 5 Greatest Catchers In New York Yankees History

While starting still looks to be the future for Severino, it is nice to see him helping the team in other ways this season. The 2016 season could still provide fruitful for the Yankees in the way of a Wild Card appearance. If they made it, Severino will definitely have a hand in that as a dynamic weapon out of the bullpen.

Home/New York Yankees