LAKELAND, Fla. — Friday, Luis Severino threw 54 pitches and continued to feel good about how his body is doing. But based on how batters have hit him so far this spring, the Yankees right-hander still has at least one thing to clean up.
After the Yankees beat the Tigers 4-3 at Joker Marchant Stadium, Luis Severino acknowledged the issue and promised to work on it to resolve. According to him:
“That my slider sucks, that’s what they’re telling me right now; I need to work more on my slider. It’s not the movement, it’s just location actually.”
This spring, Luis Severino has given up five home runs in 8 2/3 innings. The Tigers got two of them. One of the homers on Friday came when Eric Haase hit a slider, which he also did on February 27.
“That’s the pitch I have to work on the most,” Severino said. “I just need to do more work outside. But other than that, it was great.”
The manager Aaron Boone agreed with that assessment.
“His slider’s kind of the last thing to sharpen up because his stuff’s there,” Boone said. “It looks good. Today was another good outing, a good step for him. Coming out real easy, he’s staying in his delivery, he’s got a really good feel of his changeup already. So I’m encouraged where he’s at.”
The Yankees rely on Luis Severino to remain healthy, particularly after fellow starters Carlos Rodon (minor forearm muscle strain) and Frankie Montas (shoulder surgery) have already been sidelined by ailments. Luis Severino’s last complete season was in 2018.
“I feel happy where I am right now,” Severino said. “Even the next day, sometimes I pitch and it feels like I threw a bullpen, I’m not even sore. So that’s a great sign when I wake up the next day and I don’t feel horrible.”
Lou Trivino won’t be able to play at the beginning of the season because of a “mild elbow ligament sprain.” Trivino said the problem started after he pitched a scoreless inning against the Pirates in the Grapefruit League last week.
Trivino said, “I just felt a little tighter than usual. So, I’m just trying to be extra careful.”
Brian Cashman expects Trivino to be back by May. Trivino will go on the injured list for the first time in his career because of an arm injury.
“Honestly, I feel like I could throw right now,” Trivino said. “But I’m the one who just constantly throws and throws and throws. But I feel good. We’re progressing pretty quickly, so I feel good.”
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