WEST SACRAMENTO -- With Luis Severino dealing with some tightness in his right shoulder coming off his best outing of the season last week in Anaheim, the Athletics were hopeful that a few extra days of rest would be all he needed before pitching again.
“There was a lot of conversation and a lot of thought that went into this, including from Sevy, that he’d benefit from a couple more days,” manager Mark Kotsay said Tuesday. “He threw a side [Tuesday], which went well. There was still a little bit of tightness, but we don’t expect Sevy to miss his next turn.”
Pushed back from his scheduled turn in the rotation on Tuesday, Severino took the mound for the A’s in Friday’s series opener against the Yankees at Sutter Health Park and lasted one inning before leaving the game.
After surrendering four runs in the first, Severino took a long look toward the A’s dugout while warming up for the second inning. Not long after getting checked out by trainer Jeff Collins, Severino walked off the mound and eventually made his way back to the A’s clubhouse. Later in the game, the A’s announced Severino left the game due to right shoulder soreness.
The severity of Severino’s injury is unclear at this point. Should he have to miss time, it would mark the second A’s starting pitcher to go down this week. Aaron Civale was placed on the 15-day IL on Tuesday, prompting the club to call up its No. 3 prospect (MLB No. 41), Gage Jump, to take his place in the rotation.
Options at Triple-A Las Vegas to replace Severino’s rotation slot would include A’s No. 12 prospect Kade Morris, as well as pitchers already on the 40-man roster such as Mason Barnett and Joey Estes.