While the New York Yankees didn’t add pitching help at MLB’s trade deadline, All-Star reinforcements for their rotation and bullpen could be looming in the future.
Relief pitcher Dellin Betances threw off the mound at Yankee Stadium on Thursday afternoon and starting pitcher Luis Severino did the same later in the day.
Betances missed the start of the season with shoulder trouble then suffered a setback while attempting to rehab the injury in June. Severino experienced discomfort in his throwing shoulder since spring training and has only made slow steps in his recovery since.
Now the talented duo are both making a significant step in their recovery. There each threw a bullpen session earlier in the week and if neither feels any lingering pain after Thursday’s session, a rehab assignment could be in the near future.
Getting Severino and Betances back before September would be huge for New York. While Severino might not have enough time to be stretched into a normal starting role, even being an opener that goes three-to-four innings could benefit New York.
Meanwhile, Betances owns a 2.38 ERA in his career and would give the Yankees an elite arm in clutch situations for September and October as long as he avoids a setback.