Corey Kluber’s arm, experience with playoff push will come in handy for Yankees down stretch
BALTIMORE — Corey Kluber can bring more than just some strong innings pitched for the Yankees down the stretch.
The two-time Cy Young winner played on some contending and playoff teams with Cleveland. So he brings valuable experience of what it takes for a team to get through September to the playoffs.
“First and foremost, it’s everybody pulling in the same direction,” Kluber said. “You get to this time of year especially, and there’s really just one goal in mind. And that’s to win each and every night. Not always gonna be the case. But that’s the goal each day, when you show up to the ballpark, it’s not worrying about an ERA or batting averages or any of those stats, their individual stats. I think that stuff on the really good teams gets pushed aside. And everybody’s energy and focus is really just on winning the baseball game.”
So Kluber can put what was a frustrating season aside on Friday when he takes the mound at Yankee Stadium against his former teammates from Cleveland, and focus on the playoff push.
In the three starts since he returned from missing three months with a shoulder strain, Kluber has pitched just 11.2 innings and allowed 11 earned runs for a 8.49 ERA. Obviously Kluber and the Yankees would like to see an improvement on that down the stretch.
The 35-year-old had pitched one inning over the past two seasons because of injuries. The shoulder issue earlier this year is no longer affecting him, Kluber said. Now it’s a matter of tuning up his pitches.
“I have an end goal in mind of where I would like to be and I think I have an idea of what it’ll take for me to get there,” Kluber said. “I am just going about my business and work on it each and every day.
Kluber admitted he has been energized by the Bombers’ playoff push. He sees his injury and comeback as an example of what puts the Yankees in a good position to handle this final ride. They certainly know how to overcome adversity.
“I don’t think we’ve backed down from any of those challenges that have come because of that. I think that shows the character of the guys in the clubhouse, I think it shows what’s what is important to them,” Kluber said. “We’re not worried about things that are out of our control. It’s like I talked about going out there and try and find whatever way possible to go win a baseball game.”
SEVERINO STEPS UP
Luis Severino will step back up onto a mound and face hitters Saturday. That will be the first time since he was shut down after scratching himself from a minor league rehab start on Aug. 11. Severino pitch two simulated innings against live hitters on Friday afternoon at Yankee Stadium before the series opener against Cleveland.
LOAISIGA CLOSER
Jonathan Loaisiga, who has arguably been the Yankees best reliever this season, is beginning his journey back to the mound. The slight right-hander with a history of injuries will begin throwing again on Friday, Aaron Boone said. He has been on the injured list since Sept. 5 with a shoulder strain.
His absence hasn’t gone unnoticed from the Yankees bullpen, which has been taxed as they’ve tried to compensate. Boone is cautiously optimistic Loaisiga won’t need a long ramp up to return.
“I hope so, but, again, I mean, we’ll see how he does with his throwing program,” the Yankees manager said. “And then how he progresses from there and how his shoulder and everything responds from that. So yeah, I’m hopeful, but we’ll just have to see how it plays out.”
INJURY UPDATE
Reliever Sal Romano, who had to leave Tuesday’s game after being hit in the hand with a comebacker suffered a sprain of his finger, Boone said.
“We’re just trying to get some swelling out of there,” Boone said. “So just a day-to-day situation with him right now.