Yankees' Luis Severino feels like 'the worst pitcher in the game' after implosion vs. Orioles

Sunday's Yankees-Orioles game was a microcosm of the AL East season, as Baltimore blasted last-place New York 9-3 to extend its lead in baseball's best division.

It was a rough night for most Yankees players but particularly so for starter Luis Severino, who lasted just 3 1/3 innings before being pulled. Even then, it was probably too late.

Severino opened the game with a disastrous first inning that saw the Orioles jump to a 7-0 lead. The entire Orioles lineup batted in the inning, with Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson each getting two turns at the plate.

Severino served up seven hits, including two doubles and a three-run home run by Adam Frazier.

He walked one and allowed a stolen base that set up the seventh run of the inning.

He settled down for scoreless second and third innings. But his night was over after a wild pitch and pair of earned runs in the fourth.

Severino's final line: 3 1/3 innings pitched, 10 hits allowed, 9 runs allowed (all earned), 2 walks, 5 strikeouts and 1 home run allowed.

After the game, he did not go easy on himself.

"Right now, I feel like the worst pitcher in the game," Severino said, per Newsday. "No doubt about it. ... Nothing that I do is working."

It has been a rough go for the former two-time All-Star, whose seasons of late have been scuttled by injury. Sunday's outing ballooned his ERA from 6.46 to 7.49. It was his fourth game since June 1 in which he surrendered seven earned runs or more. He has a 2-5 record to show for it.

Severino, of course, is not the heart of the Yankees' problems. An offense that went stagnant when Aaron Judge was sidelined by a toe injury in early June continued to struggle Sunday. After he sparked the offense in the second game of his return, with three hits and two RBI in an 8-3 win over the Orioles on Saturday, Judge returned to the bench for rest on Sunday. Yankees batters struck out 18 times to help Orioles pitchers to a franchise record.

Despite their struggles and last-place standing, the Yankees have plenty to play for. At 55-50, they're easily the best last-place team in baseball. They're nine games behind the 64-41 Orioles but only 3.5 games back in the wild-card race.

If they're going to make the postseason, their bats need to wake up. A turnaround from Severino would also help.