New York Yankees: Severino deserves to head rotation in 2018

Luis Severino was clearly the best starting pitcher on the New York Yankees last season. Thus, he deserves to be the Opening Day starter and the ace at the top of the rotation.

Some New York Yankees fans were surprised when Luis Severino held a spot in the rotation at the beginning of last year. After a dismal year in 2016 in which he posted a 5.83 ERA and 1.45 WHIP, the young starter had a lot to prove.

But Severino rebounded with one of the more dominant seasons in the club’s recent history. At just 23 years old, he led the team in most pitching categories, and he finished third in the American League Cy Young race.

Thus, the Dominican deserves to get the nod on Opening Day, even if he doesn’t think so.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone remained silent over what pitcher will open the season on the bump. When asked, Severino pointed to veteran Masahiro Tanaka, who endured his worst MLB season in 2017.

Boone could arguably start either of the two, as well as C.C. Sabathia and possibly even Sonny Gray. Yet the first-year New York skipper can make a statement by allowing Severino enjoy the spotlight – he’s the team’s ace.

Tanaka kicked the season off for the Yankees in each of the previous three years. Last season, he made history by allowing eight runs in just 2 2/3 innings. Though fans didn’t know it at the time, that’s how the Japanese pitcher fared for much of the year.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

The buzz around the honor subsides rather quickly, hence who starts doesn’t necessarily matter.

However, it typically acts as a reward to those who earn it. And for New York, it could represent Tanaka passing the torch to Severino.

Expectations are relatively high for Severino, but his projections anticipate a small dip. Of course, prediction databases presume the same occurrences for most pitchers.

Severino’s improvements whittle down to a few significant points. First, opposing hitters struggled against his fastball as they did in 2015. Second, he held hitters on both sides to minuscule numbers. Lastly, his luck wasn’t as dreadful as it was in 2016.

This could just be the beginning of a successful career for the right-hander. He made significant adjustments last season, and it paid off. Now he just needs to continue developing and perfecting the minor issues.

Boone might limit Severino’s innings toward the end of the season if the Yankees sit in prime playoff position. But the team expects the youngster to pitch deep into games while remaining efficient.

Next: How will Boone handle Gary Sanchez's defense?

It should. Severino could be a the club’s ace for years to come. And his reign at the top of the rotation should begin on Opening Day.