Severino's debut to come against Red Sox
CHICAGO -- Standout right-hander Luis Severino, ranked as the Yankees' No. 1 prospect by MLB.com, is scheduled to make his Major League debut against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that the 21-year-old will slot in for the middle game of the three-game series. Masahiro Tanaka is scheduled to pitch the opener on Tuesday and CC Sabathia is slated to take the ball on Thursday.
Girardi said he does not believe Severino will be intimidated by making his debut under the bright lights against the Yanks' long-standing division rival.
Video: Top Prospects: Luis Severino, RHP, Yankees
"There are no guarantees, but I saw his personality in Spring Training and the way he handled himself, and his professionalism," Girardi said. "I didn't think that he had fear and he wasn't overwhelmed in Spring Training like I've seen some of the pitchers.
"The first time they're there, it takes them a year, and then the next time you see them pitch well. That was not the case with him. He didn't have any of that, so that makes you think that he'll be able to handle it."
Severino, who is coming off a career-high 10 strikeouts over six innings of one-hit ball in his last outing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Lehigh Valley, has been dominant since his promotion to Triple-A earlier this summer.
Severino went 7-0 with a 1.91 ERA in 11 starts for the RailRiders, posting a .184 average against and a 0.93 WHIP. He is taking the rotation slot vacated by the injured Michael Pineda, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right forearm flexor tendon.
Girardi said that the Yankees won't have to add Severino to the Major League roster until Wednesday, which allows them to carry an extra reliever in the meantime. Right-hander Nick Rumbelow was recalled from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, with right-hander Nick Goody optioned to Triple-A.
The Yankees signed the 6-foot, 195-pound Severino in July 2012, and he pitched in the '13 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. He is ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 16 overall prospect and No. 3 right-handed pitching prospect.