The Yankees find themselves facing a distinct challenge with Luis Severino, as demonstrated by their 11-4 defeat against the St. Louis Cardinals in the opening game of Saturday’s doubleheader. Their desperation took to such a height that the Yankees called third baseman Josh Donaldson to the mound to make his pitching debut.
The Yankees should now be genuinely alarmed about Luis Severino’s performance, as his ERA skyrocketed to 6.30. In just four innings, he was pounded for nine runs (seven earned) on nine hits (including two home runs), while only managing to strike out two batters and walking three. With only 58 strikes out of 87 pitches, Luis Severino placed New York’s pitching staff in a challenging situation for the subsequent games of the weekend’s four-game series.
Looking at the broader scope, can the Yankees rely on Luis Severino to perform consistently every fifth day for the remainder of the season? With the exception of his previous start, a commendable 1-0 victory against the Texas Rangers last Monday, during which he tossed six scoreless innings, Luis Severino’s performance has been overwhelmingly disappointing since June 2.
During a span of four starts between June 2 and June 18, Luis Severino surrendered a total of 21 runs (19 earned) on 29 hits, including seven home runs. He managed to strike out 18 batters but also issued nine walks. Saturday’s disappointing performance further implies that the exceptional outing against the Rangers was an anomaly rather than a reflection of his current form.
Luis Severino’s surrender in St. Louis
Leading up to Saturday’s game, Luis Severino showcased an impressive performance in his previous start, tossing six scoreless innings against a formidable Rangers lineup. This notable display led manager Aaron Boone to express his confidence, stating, “I believe he has the potential to embark on a fantastic streak for our team.”
Heading into Saturday’s game, Luis Severino carried the momentum from his most exceptional start of the season. The Yankees were optimistic that this marked the start of a promising period for the talented right-hander.
Unfortunately, Luis Severino’s fortunes took a turn for the worse as he once again struggled on the mound. He endured a barrage from the Cardinals, surrendering a total of nine runs across four-plus innings. The Yankees ended up on the losing side of an 11-4 scoreline in the first game of a doubleheader at Busch Stadium, a game that was disrupted twice by storms.
The Cardinals, with a record of 34-47, pummeled Luis Severino with nine hits, including two home runs, ultimately forcing him out of the game with two runners on base and no outs in the fifth inning.
Out of the nine runs he conceded, two were deemed unearned due to a significant throwing error committed by third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera. Nonetheless, Luis Severino couldn’t escape the fact that he allowed a considerable amount of powerful contact, including seven balls that were hit at 95 mph or higher.
Following this latest disappointing outing, Luis Severino’s ERA for the season stands at 6.30, considering his first eight starts. It’s worth noting that the beginning of his season was hampered by a strained lat during spring training.
Additionally, over the course of 40 innings, Luis Severino has given up a total of 10 home runs, highlighting the challenges he has faced in keeping the ball in the park.
The Yankees offense too faltered in Game 1
Despite the Yankees being put in an insurmountable hole by Luis Severino’s struggles, their offense failed to make an impact. Severino’s disastrous five-run third inning created a deficit that the Yankees, who remained scoreless until Oswaldo Cabrera‘s seventh-inning RBI single that brought home Isiah Kiner-Falefa to put them on the board at 11-1, had virtually no chance of overcoming given their lackluster batting performance.
Following two separate rain delays, one occurring in the seventh inning and another in the eighth inning, the Yankees managed to rally and score three runs in the ninth. The standout contribution came from Jake Bauers, who smashed his seventh home run of the season, accounting for two of the runs and narrowing the deficit to seven runs.
The Yankees found themselves helpless against Jack Flaherty, as he delivered an exceptional performance by pitching six shutout innings. He allowed only four hits while striking out four batters and issuing two walks. Flaherty showcased his command by throwing 60 strikes out of 96 pitches before handing over the reins to the bullpen.
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