Just eight months after inking a three-year, $67 million contract with the (not Oakland or Sacramento) Athletics, Luis Severino has been relentless in his criticisms of the team’s ballpark situation. As a result, reports have come out that the club “can’t wait” to ship him out of West Sacramento.
While his 5.09 ERA might look ugly, this should be a pitcher Alex Anthopoulos and the Atlanta Braves need to acquire immediately to mend the rotation with both Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach out indefinitely.
Why the Braves need to acquire Luis Severino
When you break down Luis Severino’s stats, it make a lot of sense why the righty has continued to bash the minor league park Athletics’ John Fisher has has forced them to play in.
At home, Severino has been the second-worst pitcher in baseball by ERA. His 6.79 home ERA is better than just one pitcher this season, the Rockies Antonio Senzatela. Severino has complained about Sutter Health Park’s atmosphere, and clubhouse situation. The righty even noted that playing in Sacramento feels like a spring training game.
Simply put, the 31-year-old has hated pitching at home and the stats back it up.
However, the story completely flips once the 10-year vet feels at home in a big league park… on the road. Even after a miserable start in New York, Severino’s 3.04 road ERA still ranks 31st out of 104 qualified starters.
A starter who could provide even a 3.50 ERA and eat innings would be a massive boost to the Atlanta.
With the Braves depending on a 20-year-old who started the year in A+ ball and Bryce Elder after devastating injuries to both Sale and Schwellenbach, Atlanta desperately needs a legitimate veteran starter behind Spencer Strider.
Bryce Elder has been horrible since his dominant start against the Giants, with a 12.64 ERA in his last four starts,. Didier Fuentes, depsite showing some promise in his first few starts, hasn’t made it past the fifth inning in his three starts and has a 9.00 ERA/5.92 in his first 12 big league innings.
Atlanta hasn’t even announced which minor league starter will take Schwellenbach’s place in the rotation, so unless Alex Anthopoulos acts quickly, the Braves starting rotation could sink the Braves further and further out of contention before they even reach the All-Star break.
