The New York Yankees had a familiar pitcher on the mound yesterday, Luis Severino returned from injury to make his season debut.
In a season of debilitating injuries, the New York Yankees finally had good news as Luis Severino was on the mound to make his 2019 season debut. He started against the Los Angeles Angels in an 8-0 Yankees win.
Severino dazzled in his first game since October last year in Game three of the ALDS against the Boston Red Sox. He threw 4 scoreless innings, striking out four while allowing two hits and walking two batters. He also hit 98 mph on the radar gun.
You would think a team up by 10 games in the AL East wouldn’t really care about game 151. For the Yankees that game was the most important of all.
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Getting Severino back is a big deal for this team. Severino is their ace and they will need him in the playoffs and will need him at full strength. Now don’t expect him to throw too many innings as the Yankees will need to be cautious with his innings until they feel he can have free rein in a start.
He was originally expected to return by the end of April with what was rotator cuff inflammation, but he suffered a Grade 2 right lat strain as he was rehabbing.
It has been pretty amazing how well these Yankees have been this season despite so many injuries. They have received contributions from everyone, but their pitching staff has been mediocre at best. They are 14th in all of baseball in team ERA, which is at 4.35.
James Paxton is the only starter with an ERA below 4.00 as he is at 3.88. The other starters, Masahiro Tanaka (4.60), J.A. Happ (5.07), Domingo German (4.09) and CC Sabathia (4.95) have struggled. The New York Yankees strength this season has been their dominant offense.
If the offense can continue producing, they are 3rd in team batting average at .270, 1st in runs scored at 894 and 2nd in the league in home runs at 287, they are set up for a deep playoff run.
The return of Luis Severino puts all the other teams hunting for a World Series title on notice. Their ace has returned and he looks good.