On Monday, the New York Yankees will be looking for a three game sweep of the Minnesota Twins in Minnesota. To do so, the team will be sending out Luis Severino for his seventh career postseason start.
If anybody remembers, his first came just two short years ago against the Twins in the AL Wild Card game. He went just a third of an inning that evening, but the Yankees still managed to get the win and get within a game of the World Series that season.
“I don’t even remember that” said Severino on Sunday about the 2017 Wild Card game. He goes into Monday with a fresh mindset, clear of his injury plagued season and prior postseason appearances.
Severino also feels confident about what he’s accomplished in his three starts this year. He’s 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings, and only gave up runs in his final start. Throughout his starts, his velocity continued to increase as well as his location and movement.
He is now looking for his second win in 2019, a win that would send the Yankees to most likely Houston for the ALCS. If Tampa somehow came back against Houston, the Yankees would open the ALCS at home.
Monday will be in the mid-50s and clear in Minnesota, with a sold out crowd at Target Field. Fans should be rowdy, but it’s nothing the Yankees can’t handle. They’ve always played well on the road, and plenty of Yankees fans will travel to Minneapolis and will be behind Severino all night.
If Sevy can just stay calm and execute his pitches like usual, he should have a great start and be able to send the Yankees off to the next round.