Yankees ace Luis Severino continues his All-Star season

Yankees ace Luis Severino became the major’s first 12-game winner, continuing to prove he’s worthy of being the starting pitcher for the Amercian League in the Midsummer Classic.

On a night where reigning AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber allowed six earned runs in just 1.2 innings of work, Yankees ace Luis Severino was as dominant as ever.

In the unfamiliar territory of Citizens Bank Park, pitching to a batterymate other than Gary Sanchez — Severino refused to disappoint, working seven scoreless innings, striking out nine and scattering six hits while walking none.

Of the 103 pitches the 23-year-old threw, 72 were for strikes. As a matter of fact, 12 times Severino topped 100-mph while his fastball averaged 97.7-mph according to Statcast. His hardest-throw ball of the night registered at an electric 101.2-mph.

The Yankees moved to 15-2 in games this season in which Severino has started, as this was already the fourth time Sevvy has exited a contest without allowing a run and the second time in his last three starts.

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While Astros fans are likely to argue that Justin Verlander is a worthy candidate to start the July 17th All-Star Game for the American League, Yankees manager Aaron Boone insists his clear-cut No. 1 has inserted himself into the conversation for the game’s very best pitchers. Per NJ.com:

"“We’ve seen all the Houston guys that are really, really good, but Sevy’s right there with them. It’s hard for me to imagine anyone being any better. That record in a lot of ways speaks for itself. The ability to get deep into games. He’s been really good against the elite competition it seems like as well."

Seventy-seven games into the season, Severino has been the Yankees MVP. Without his 12-2 record, 2.10 ERA, 0.958 WHIP and 132:26 K:BB ratio in 111.2 innings pitched, there’s no way the Yanks would currently sit atop the AL East standings (52-25 record, a half game on the Red Sox).

Leading the league in wins and FIP (2.21) is an accomplishment. However, it’s some of the lesser discussed metrics that also deserve noting: 81.7% LOB, .201 BAA and 0.48 HR/9.

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Though it won’t be easy getting the nod to start the ASG from Astros manager A.J. Hinch, following his team’s World Series appearance, Severino recently told Newsday, “it would mean a lot,” but that he’s only thinking five days ahead at a time.