Visits: 3
“I guess in a way I’m going with what I believe is Sevy turning the corner,” Boone said. “And what I believe is when he’s pitching at his best, he’ll be the best pitcher on the field tomorrow. I feel like he’s ready for this opportunity and I think he’s very much looking forward to taking the ball.”
Boone repeated on Tuesday that saving Happ for the division series against Boston — when he could pitch in Games 1 and 5 at Fenway Park, where he has thrived over the years — was not a consideration.
“It’s all about tomorrow for us,” Boone said.
Still, there was some compelling evidence to select Happ. He shackled the Athletics the night before Severino came undone against them last month. He allowed only one hit through six innings — a home run by Stephen Piscotty — and faced one batter over the minimum until he departed after Matt Chapman’s leadoff single in the seventh.
Even the Athletics seemed to think they would be facing him.
“If you asked me yesterday, I would have thought it would be Happ,” Athletics outfielder Mark Canha said. “He’s less explosive than Severino, but more precise with his location. But I don’t think these are easy decisions for either manager.”
The A’s, who hit more home runs per at-bat (21.2) and more extra base hits (296) on the road than any other team, are a team that feasts on fastballs. Since the All-Star break, opponents have batted .342 and slugged at .642 against Severino’s fastball. Over that same span, opponents have batted .196 and slugged .405 against Happ’s four-seam fastball, which he throws 65 percent of the time.
Though Severino throws considerably harder, he has struggled with his fastball command — even in his last start, last week at Tampa Bay, when he allowed four doubles, three walks and a hit batter in five innings. Repeatedly, Severino did not hit the target where catcher Gary Sanchez set up, often leaving his fastball up in the strike zone.
“They have a lineup that can hit everywhere,” Severino said of the Athletics. “They can go to right field, go to left field, but I’m looking forward, like I said earlier — command my fastball. If I can get that fastball inside and if that slider is sharp, I think I can get through that lineup.”
And if he can’t, Boone may have to endure his first uncomfortable moment.