TAMPA — Despite a solid 11-start major league debut last year, Luis Severino isn’t guaranteed to open the season in the Yankees’ rotation.
Joe Girardi made that very clear early in camp. And with Ivan Nova lurking, there will be competition with six names for five spots.
Monday in a 1-0 loss to the Astros at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Severino delivered three scoreless innings in which he fanned three, hit a batter but didn’t issue a walk.
His velocity ranged from 93 to 97 mph and he pitched at 95. The cutter was 88 to 92 and the changeup fluctuated from 85 to 89.
It was a lot better than Severino’s first spring outing, when he allowed five runs, two hits and walked two in 1 ¹/₃ innings against the Tigers on Wednesday. He also hit a batter in that outing.
“Me and Larry [Rothschild] worked in the bullpens on staying back a little bit and thinking more,’’ said Severino, who went 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA last season.
“I think the first time I was too quick to the plate.’’
If Monday was an indication of how Severino is going to do the rest of the exhibition schedule, he should land a rotation spot.
“He threw strikes and wasn’t flying open,’’ Joe Girardi said. “His command was good. I thought he threw the ball well.’’
Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances worked for the first time this spring. Each was clocked between 92 to 95 mph with his fastball.
“The first time out is a baseline,’’ said Miller, who will close games until Aroldis Chapman returns from suspension May 9. Miller gave up a hit, walked one and whiffed one in an inning. “Being healthy is the most important thing. Try to get better next time.”
Betances allowed a tainted run because center fielder Lane Adams didn’t get to a very catchable fly ball. In an inning he allowed two hits, that one run and fanned two.
“I thought all our pitchers did a very good job,’’ Girardi said.
Brett Gardner took batting practice outside for the first time this spring. He had been limited to cage work because the Yankees are going slow with a bone bruise in his left wrist he suffered during October’s AL wild-card game.
Didi Gregorius and Chase Headley are the only regulars who boarded a bus Monday night for Jupiter where the Yankees play the Marlins Tuesday. According to Girardi, any player on the trip Monday night will play in Jupiter and against the Mets in Port St. Lucie Wednesday.
Second baseman Starlin Castro left Monday’s game against the Astros for a dental appointment. Castro isn’t on the trip and is slated to play again in one of two games set for Thursday.
Training day
Shifting gears
Brian McCann beat the shift twice with singles to the vacated area between third base and the shortstop. McCann also threw out Jake Marisnick trying to steal second in the third inning.
Costly exchange
Lane Adams failed to make a catch in the left-center field gap in the seventh that cost Dellin Betances a run in his first spring outing.
Caught my eye
Jacob Lindgren, the Yankees’ first pick in the 2014 draft, bounced back from a horrific first outing to throw a perfect ninth.
Tuesday’s schedule
The Yankees face the Marlins in Jupiter, where CC Sabathia makes his spring training debut.
