Yankees Severino to be outside over shoulder discomfort

The New York Yankees scratched ace Luis Severino from his scheduled spring training debut Tuesday after he experienced right shoulder discomfort. Manager Aaron Boone later told reporters it's "highly unlikely" the All-Star right-hander will be ready by Opening Day.

An MRI exam revealed inflammation of the rotator cuff, ESPN reported. Severino will be shut down for two weeks and treated with anti-inflammatory medication before resuming a throwing program, according to Boone. Severino, 25, was a late scratch. As the Yankees prepared to take the field against the Atlanta Braves in Tampa, Fla., the team announced that left-hander Stephen Tarpley would start instead.

Severino was 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA and 220 strikeouts in 191 1/3 innings last season. In 2017, he went 14-6 with a 2.98 ERA and 230 strikeouts in 193 1/3 innings and finished third in the American League Cy Young Award voting.

Last month, Severino signed a reported four-year, $40 million extension with a fifth-year club option in 2023.