Severino to start Tuesday; Stanton near return

September 12th, 2019

DETROIT -- The Yankees are about to get some significant reinforcements back from their crowded injured list. Luis Severino will start on Tuesday against the Angels at Yankee Stadium, a game that could include Giancarlo Stanton in the starting lineup. 

Additionally, Dellin Betances is scheduled to make one more Minor League rehab appearance for Double-A Trenton on Friday, then could re-join the active roster. Jordan Montgomery is also on his way to join the Yankees and could make his season debut on Sunday against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Severino, 25, has yet to appear in the Majors this season due to right shoulder rotator cuff inflammation and a Grade 2 lat strain. He made three Minor League rehab starts, the most recent coming on Wednesday, when he allowed five hits and four runs (one earned) in 3 2/3 innings with four strikeouts. 

“He’s not far off at all,” Boone said. “Now it’s just a matter of getting real sharp, but I think you can tell that he feels good. The stuff is there. Now it’s just getting real sharp with it and getting that consistency. When we know that he has that, then he can go out and dominate.”

Boone said that he anticipates Severino could make three regular-season starts before the playoffs, setting up a potentially deep rotation that could also include James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, Domingo German and J.A. Happ in some form or fashion, including the possibility of piggy-backing starters. 

“I would say anything and everything is on the table for us,” Boone said.

Stanton is continuing to rehab from a right PCL strain at the Yankees’ complex in Tampa, Fla., where he logged more at-bats, performed defensive drills and a full-speed arc run on Wednesday. Boone said that Stanton will play in Instructional League games this weekend.

“He’s seeing a lot of pitches with live at-bats with guys down there,” Boone said. “I feel like he’s accumulating a lot of at-bats right now and seeing a lot of live pitching right now, which he likes to do, which is good.”

The slugger has played in nine games this season after leading the Yankees in home runs (38) and RBIs (100) last year. Boone said that he anticipates Stanton will be able to play the outfield upon his return, which will help the Yankees work Edwin Encarnacion and Luke Voit into their lineup.  

Montgomery is returning from Tommy John left elbow surgery performed last June. The 26-year-old is 11-7 with a 3.84 ERA in 35 Major League starts for New York over the past two seasons.