There were few better starters in the season's first half than Luis Severino.
There were few worse for much of the second half.
The Yankees are gambling on the former showing up Wednesday night.
In what could be described as a minor surprise, Aaron Boone announced the 24-year-old Severino as his starter for the American League wild-card game against the A's at the Stadium.
"What I believe is when he's pitching his best, he'll be the best pitcher on the field tomorrow," Boone said Tuesday. "I feel like he's ready for this opportunity, and I think he's very much looking forward to taking the ball."
Wednesday's winner gets the Red Sox in a best-of-five Division Series that starts Friday night at 7:30 at Fenway Park.
Severino went 14-2 with a 2.31 ERA the first half, earning his second straight All-Star bid, and was very much an AL Cy Young award contender. But he went 5-6 with a 5.57 ERA in the second half, those numbers saved somewhat by a solid three-game stretch to close the season in which he went 2-1 with a 2.04 ERA.
"It means a lot, it means that they trust me," Severino said of getting the nod over J.A. Happ, who was the favorite to get the start, and Masahiro Tanaka.
Severino's last start came Sept. 25 at Tampa, meaning he'll be starting on eight days' rest.
While saying the extended rest "is going to be good," Severino acknowledged the uncertainty involved in the decision. Boone and club hierarchy, including GM Brian Cashman, didn't make a call on it until Sunday.
"It's tough," Severino said. "As a starter we need to know at least four or five days before, but I thought it was going to either be Happ, or Tanaka or me. So I was thinking if they ask me, I'll be ready."
Severino, of course, got the same assignment last year against the Twins and was hooked by Joe Girardi after allowing three runs, three hits and a walk in one-third of an inning. Chad Green pitched out of a one-out jam, the bullpen was brilliant the rest of the way and the offense erupted for an 8-4 victory.
Boone said Severino, who finished 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA this season, will have an opportunity to pitch "deep" into Wednesday's game, but with a fully rested bullpen _ which includes strikeout arms belonging to the likes of Green, David Robertson, Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances and Zach Britton, who likely will be the closer _ the leash will be short.
"I just want to win," Severino said. "Whatever happens, if I can go four good innings and then the bullpen comes in, that would be great. I just want to win and move on and go to Boston and try to win there."
There were more than a few in the organization, including in the clubhouse, who figured Happ would get the start Wednesday based on his performance since being acquired at the trade deadline. The left-hander went 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA, one of those outings a start Sept. 4 at Oakland when he allowed one run and two hits over six innings.
Severino was a mixed bag against Oakland _ allowing one run over six innings in a May 13 start at the Stadium, then getting lit up for six runs (five earned) and six hits over 2 2/3 innings Sept. 5 in Oakland. In that game Severino and catcher Gary Sanchez, with whom he'll be paired Wednesday, were a mess as in the first inning as there were two wild pitches and two passed balls. That was the last of the pitcher's bad starts as he finished the season with three strong ones.
"I feel like he's turned a corner and really started to throw the ball better," Boone said. "I think he's ready for this."
