CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Yankees were able to take another sigh of relief Thursday when Luis Severino reported feeling “good” a day after throwing a bullpen session.
The right-hander had experienced “general arm soreness” a day after his most recent outing last Friday, which led to the Yankees pushing back his next start. That made Thursday important, a day after Severino threw 31 pitches in the bullpen, but he remains in line to make his final Grapefruit League start Saturday against the Braves.
“I haven’t talked to him yet, but checked with [pitching coach Matt] Blake and the training staff said they’re really encouraged by what he was coming in with today,” Boone said. “[We were] kind of waiting for this morning and it’s what we’d hoped to this point.”
Severino will be in the 50-60 pitch range on Saturday, according to Boone.
Gerrit Cole’s final Grapefruit League start, scheduled for Friday against the Tigers, could be in danger with rain forecasted for Lakeland, Fla. Cole said he was “worried about the weather” and that the backup plan would either be to throw Friday back in Tampa or Saturday in a game.
“It’s not ideal,” Cole said. “It’s important to see hitters.”
Corey Kluber is now with the Rays, but the Yankees are still feeling his impact — especially through Michael King.
King had been looking to add a third pitch to his repertoire and got some help from Kluber last season in The Bronx, learning his signature slider/curveball last May before introducing it midseason. As he re-enters into a hybrid long-relief/high-leverage role, King said continuing to refine the new pitch will be important.
“If it is a carbon copy of Corey, that would be electric,” said King, who also threw with Kluber this offseason. “But honestly, anything close to it is what I’m looking for. … I’ve gone through six different slider grips, I’ve thrown it in college and it’s never been a good pitch for me until Kluber.”
With Thursday marking a week until Opening Day, more serious conversations about roster decisions began to kick into gear.
To break camp — with rosters expanding from 26 to 28 through May 1 to accommodate for the shortened spring training — Boone said he expects to carry at least 15 pitchers, if not 16. As long as the Yankees stay healthy between now and then, Boone sees “probably one or two” roster spots up for grabs.
Catcher Ben Rortvedt (oblique) hit off a tee and soft toss Thursday, but has not yet advanced to taking live at-bats.
“He’s not there yet,” Boone said. “But he is moving in the right direction.”
— Additional reporting by Dan Martin in Tampa
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