The New York Yankees are breathing a sigh of relief.
Right-hander Luis Severino, who was a late scratch from his scheduled spring start Tuesday because of right shoulder discomfort, will be shut down for two weeks after an MRI revealed an inflamed rotator cuff, manager Aaron Boone said, according to The Athletic's Lindsey Adler.
Severino will receive an injection and anti-inflammatories before resuming his throwing program, Boone added, per MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.
Boone said it's "highly unlikely" that Severino will be ready to pitch on Opening Day. A replacement starter for the season opener was not named, though the skipper listed Domingo German and Jonathan Loaisiga as the top two candidates to enter the rotation, Brendan Kuty of NJ.com notes.
Severino was on the field for warmup when he felt something in his shoulder while throwing a slider. He was immediately lifted from the scheduled appearance and replaced with left-hander Stephen Tarpley.
It would have been the 25-year-old's spring debut and his first pitching appearance since signing a four-year, $40-million contract extension with the Yankees on Feb. 15.
Besides their internal options, the Yankees could turn to free agency to fill the void in their rotation. New York was already discussing southpaw Gio Gonzalez before Tuesday's news, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.
Severino was 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA in 32 starts for the Yankees in 2018 and appeared in his second consecutive All-Star Game. He also finished among the top 10 in American League Cy Young voting for a second straight season.
