Just eight months after signing a three-year, $67 million deal with the Athletics—not Oakland or Sacramento, but the awkward West Sacramento version—Luis Severino has been openly critical of the team’s ballpark situation. His frustrations have reportedly pushed the organization to the point where they’re eager to move on and trade him.
Though Severino’s 5.09 ERA might not turn heads in a good way, he’s exactly the kind of arm the Atlanta Braves need to target right now to stabilize a rotation rocked by injuries to Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach.
Why Luis Severino Makes Sense for the Braves
A deeper dive into Severino’s numbers reveals why his frustrations with the team’s temporary home are understandable. At Sutter Health Park, he’s been one of the worst starting pitchers in baseball, posting a 6.79 ERA—better than only Colorado’s Antonio Senzatela. Severino has openly criticized the ballpark’s atmosphere and facilities, even likening the experience to a spring training environment.
The numbers support his complaints: he’s clearly uncomfortable pitching at home.
But it’s a different story when Severino takes the mound on the road. Despite an early-season blowup in New York, his 3.04 ERA away from West Sacramento ranks 31st among 104 qualified starters—proof that he can still be a very effective pitcher in a proper MLB setting.
Even if Severino could provide Atlanta with a solid 3.50 ERA while eating innings, it would be a major lift for a depleted rotation.
With the Braves currently relying on 20-year-old Didier Fuentes—who started the season in High-A—and a struggling Bryce Elder, the need for a seasoned starter is dire. Elder has a bloated 12.64 ERA across his last four starts, and Fuentes, while showing flashes of potential, has yet to pitch beyond the fifth inning and owns a 9.00 ERA (5.92 FIP) over his first 12 MLB innings.
Atlanta hasn’t even announced who will fill Schwellenbach’s rotation spot next, underscoring just how thin things have become. Unless GM Alex Anthopoulos acts quickly, the Braves could find themselves spiraling out of playoff contention well before the All-Star break.
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