Severino gets Opening Day nod with high hopes for '26

MESA, Ariz. – Just as Athletics manager Mark Kotsay’s daily media scrum ahead of Friday night’s game against the Mariners was about to end, the skipper threw out an unprompted question.

“Opening Day starter?” Kotsay asked. “I think we should [announce one], right?”

To nobody’s surprise, Kotsay revealed that Luis Severino will take the mound for the A’s in Toronto when they open up the season on March 27 against the reigning American League champion Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

This will be Severino’s second consecutive Opening Day assignment with the A’s and third overall as the 32-year-old right-hander enters his 11th big league season. He will also become the first pitcher to start back-to-back Opening Days for the A’s since Kendall Graveman (2017-18).

“There’s going to be a lot of emotion in Toronto on that Friday night,” Kotsay said. “I think they’re raising their [AL championship] banner that night, and he’s going to get the ball for us. I’m excited for Sevy to take the ball for us and lead our staff, just like he did last year.”

While the Canadian crowd will surely be raucous, Severino already has a head start on playing in electric atmospheres this spring.

Selected to play in the World Baseball Classic for the first time in his career as a member of Team Dominican Republic, Severino made two starts for his home country, including the semifinal game against Team USA, which saw him pump near-100 mph fastballs – his four-seamer averaged 96.1 mph last year – and hold down a star-studded American lineup to one run on five hits in 3 1/3 innings with six strikeouts.

“He’s started his season already, really,” Kotsay said. “That level of energy, you can’t match it. I heard guys who played on different teams in the WBC talk about it, and they said it was more than a playoff atmosphere. I’m excited about where Sevy is at right now and excited about his year.”

Severino returned to A’s camp on Friday still riding the high of the tournament. Even with the D.R. falling short of its goal of winning a championship, the experience was something he will never forget, and the adrenaline rush was unlike anything he’s previously felt on the mound, including his several playoff appearances for the Yankees and Mets.

“There’s nothing that compares to representing your country,” Severino told MLB.com in Spanish. “It was really special and incredible. The Latin fans are very different than any other fans. They really show their emotions. I’m grateful to have had that opportunity.”

Speaking of the playoffs, that’s a goal this young A’s team on the rise has set for itself in 2026. A large part of that hinges on Severino, who, after signing a three-year, $67 million deal as a free agent last offseason had a less-than-stellar first year in green and gold.

Severino admittedly struggled adjusting to the pitching environment at Sutter Health Park last season. There was also an oblique strain that sidelined him in August. But just as the A’s ended the year strong with a 35-29 record after the All-Star break, so did Severino. After posting a 5.16 ERA over the first half of the 2025 season, he went 6-0 with a 3.10 ERA over his final nine starts of the year.

The A’s hope to get that second-half version of Severino for the entirety of 2026, and there is a clear motivation on his part to go out and show he is much better than what his final ‘25 numbers – 8-11, 4.54 ERA in 29 starts – showed.

“This is going to be a better year,” Severino said. “Not just for me, but for the whole team. I think a second year competing and working with Shea [Langeliers] behind the plate is going to be much better. Knowing the field in [West] Sacramento better, there are no more surprises. We all have a better idea of how everything works there.”

Severino’s Opening Day matchup will also present a high-profile contest against fellow Dominican Republic teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

The two have known each other for years through mutual acquaintances and will surely reminisce on their WBC journey together in Toronto, but once Severino puts that uniform on, it’s all business.

“I loved teaming up with him and the rest of the guys for the WBC,” Severino said. “But when we cross those lines for Opening Day, I don’t know him or anyone else on that team. I’m just going out there to give my best and win.”