Yankees pitching coach asks Luis Severino for tactical adjustments to reclaim form

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In the event that Luis Severino‘s fastball velocity is not at its peak, his effectiveness will heavily rely on his impeccable command. Pitching coach Matt Blake wants him to strictly follow that.

Despite Luis Severino’s impressive performance in his initial two outings following his recovery from a strained lat, his most recent pair of starts have mirrored the same level of difficulty, which coincides with a decline in the speed of his fastball.

The Yankees’ right-handed pitcher has an opportunity to showcase his abilities on Tuesday’s Subway Series opener at Citi Field.

Luis Severino’s lost form

Luis Severino’s dominance was evident in his first two starts against the Reds and Padres, surrendering a mere two earned runs over 11 ¹/₃ innings. However, his fortunes took a sharp turn when he faced the Dodgers and White Sox, as he conceded a staggering 11 earned runs, including six home runs, within a span of nine innings.

The Yankees starter’s fastball displayed its power by averaging 97.3 mph during his initial two starts. However, in his subsequent two starts, there was a noticeable decrease in Luis Severino’s velocity, with an average of 95.0 mph (reaching a maximum of 96.6 mph) and 95.6 mph (with a maximum of 97.4 mph) respectively.

Pitching coach Matt Blake stated on Sunday that if Luis Severino was not able to throw at a velocity of 98-99 mph, it would be essential for him to possess greater precision at 94-95 mph. Blake emphasized that Severino possesses ample capabilities to secure numerous outs even with the slightly reduced velocity. He suggested that finding a balance somewhere between those two-speed ranges would likely be ideal for Severino’s performance.

Following his second consecutive start for the Yankees in which he allowed three home runs against the White Sox on Thursday, Luis Severino expressed his dissatisfaction with his performance, deeming it “unacceptable.”

Coach suggests a tactical change

According to Blake, Luis Severino’s velocity would stabilize as he gradually establishes a rhythm and increases his pitch count with each subsequent start. However, Blake also emphasized the importance of him being more accurate and precise with his pitches.

Blake mentioned that having better control of the fastball would be a positive starting point for Luis Severino. He emphasized the importance of the Yankees starter improving his fastball command and ensuring that he places it strategically in areas that prove beneficial for his performance.

Additionally, Blake suggested that Luis Severino should focus on effectively landing the slider within the strike zone. Blake concluded by stating that it is crucial for him to continue refining his command, gradually finding his rhythm as he gains more experience through additional outings.

McKinney made a good impression

Billy McKinney has made a big impression since he was called up from Triple-A on Wednesday to replace Aaron Judge, who was hurt. The outfielder has played five games and has a batting average of .294 and an OPS of 1.000, both of which are very good. McKinney has also shown how good he is at defense, most notably with a spectacular jumping catch at the left-field wall in the 10th inning of Sunday’s loss to the Red Sox.

McKinney expressed his gratitude, stating that it meant a great deal to him to have the opportunity with the Yankees. He conveyed his satisfaction that the team has provided him with a chance to contribute and expressed his hopes of being able to assist the team in achieving victory in any manner possible.

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