Luis Severino, the Oakland Athletics’ starting pitcher, triggered gambling suspicion during a recent game against the Seattle Mariners after slipping twice on the mound early in his start. These unusual mishaps, coupled with his well-known dislike for the team’s temporary home field, have stirred debate and raised questions about his performance. The focus on Severino’s actions comes amid growing scrutiny over sports betting within <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>Major League Baseball.
Severino’s Discontent with the Temporary Ballpark in Sacramento
Currently, the A’s are playing in Sacramento at Sutter Health Park, a minor league facility used as a temporary stadium while a new ballpark is being constructed for the team’s move to Las Vegas. Severino signed a three-year, $67 million contract with Oakland in the offseason, leaving behind the comfort of modern stadiums like Citi Field and Yankee Stadium where he previously pitched. Since starting at this more modest venue, Severino has openly expressed his frustration.
“You’re just not used to it… You have a routine your whole life, then you come here and just [have to] work around whatever you have here,”
Severino said following a loss to the Yankees earlier this season, emphasizing the challenge of adapting to the less sophisticated environment at Sutter Health Park.
His struggles on this mound have been evident: before the match against Seattle, Severino was winless in 12 home starts with an 0-9 record, an ERA of 6.68, and opposing hitters batting over .300 off him. The drop-off in comfort and performance appeared stark compared to his previous experience at more established ballparks.
Two Early Slips Raise Eyebrows and Talk of Intentional Messages
In the first inning against the Mariners, Severino slipped not once but twice while delivering his pitches. Both times, his pitches missed the strike zone significantly. The unusual nature of the falls and the missed zones led many on social media to speculate about his intention behind these actions.
Followers commented,
“At this point, he’s doing it on purpose,”
and
“He just does not want to be there,”
linking the slips to his visible displeasure with the playing conditions and possibly frustration with the club’s situation.
However, alternative explanations were considered by some observers, suggesting that factors other than deliberate behavior might be influencing Severino’s balance on the mound.
Context of MLB’s Recent Sports Betting Investigations
The speculation around Severino intensified due to ongoing investigations related to sports gambling in Major League Baseball. Guardians’ closer Emmanuel Clase has been placed on non-disciplinary paid leave amid a betting probe, and teammate Luis Ortiz’s erratic behavior on first pitches was flagged because bets were reportedly placed on his deliveries missing the strike zone. This background has caused fans to draw parallels between those cases and Severino’s odd slips and pitching choices.
One online user questioned,
“Anyone know if Luis Severino is friends with Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase?”
while another recommended, “Check his FanDuel account,” fueling rumors about potential betting involvement linked to Severino’s performance.
Severino’s Performance Amid Suspicion and Team Victory
Despite his shaky start, Severino managed to strike out six batters over five innings, allowing only one run in his best home start of the season. Notably, he walked the leadoff hitter on four straight balls before retiring three of the next four batters faced. The Athletics won the game 6-1 against the Mariners, marking Severino’s first home win at Sutter Health Park this season.
Though speculation remains about whether he intentionally walked the first batter, no conclusive evidence has linked Severino’s slips or performance to gambling infractions. At this time, experts and fans alike are left to consider the possibility that his missteps are manifestations of his clear frustration with the subpar ballpark facilities rather than something more nefarious.
Implications for Severino and the Athletics Moving Forward
The unusual incidents involving Luis Severino occur in a challenging transitional period for the Oakland Athletics as they prepare to leave Oakland for Las Vegas. The ongoing betting probes in MLB only add tension to player performances under scrutiny, making every irregular act a potential flashpoint. Severino’s continued discomfort at the temporary Sacramento venue and his mixed results underline the difficulties the team faces during this uncertain era.
Moving forward, it will be crucial to monitor both Severino’s on-field behavior and the broader league investigations into gambling. For now, however, the pitcher’s slips seem most plausibly tied to his expressed aversion to playing at Sutter Health Park and the instability of the team’s current circumstances.