Pedro Martinez convinced Yankees’ Luis Severino could become best in game

Former Boston Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez has taken Yankees right-hander Luis Severino under his wing. Severino struck out 11 in six innings on Tueday, May 8, 2018 (5/8/18) as the Yankees beat the Red Sox, 3-2.

NEW YORK — Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez could have revised his most famous quote Tuesday night before his bedtime tweet about his protege.

He could have tipped his cap to Yankees ace Luis Severino and said he’s the Red Sox’s daddy.

Come to think of it, that wouldn’t quite work because Severino’s latest gem just was very good by his growing standards in a 3-2 Yankees victory that tied them for first in the AL East with the Sox.

Instead, Martinez went with something almost as interesting considering the source:

Severino is maturing in front of our eyes. He has all the tools to become the best pitcher in the Big Leagues

— Pedro Martinez (@45PedroMartinez) May 9, 2018

That’s quite a compliment suggesting Severino has what it takes to be the best No. 1 starter in baseball … better than Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer, better than Justin Verlander and Madison Bumgarner, better than everyone.

Martinez must have been impressed watching Tuesday night when the Yankees and Red Sox, baseball’s two teams so far, began a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone characterized this effort “not as dominate Sevy,” but two runs over six-plus innings with 11 strikeouts and no walks in a no-decision is pretty darned good.

Severino topped that last week in Houston when he faced the best-hitting team in baseball and threw a five-hit, complete-game shutout.

Martinez, maybe the best Dominican pitcher ever, is a big fan of Severino, the best in today’s game.

Martinez deserves at least a little of the credit for Severino’s development from struggling starter in 2016 to All-Star and Cy Young finalist in 2017.

“(Pedro) told me that if I change my mechanics a little bit, I’ll be more consistent in my strike zone,” Severino said last October. “That’s what I did.”

And look at him now.

Eight starts into his 2018 season, Severino is 5-1 with a 2.21 ERA. He’s tied for the league lead in wins, third in innings (53), tied for fifth in strikeouts (63) and seventh in ERA.

Takeaways from Yankees’ win over Red Sox that forces tie atop AL East

And all of his starts except one have been good, the exception his five-run, five-inning loss in Boston last month … a clunker of a start that was avenged on Tuesday night.

In his latest outing, Severino admitted having to “battle,” but this was still another fine day’s work.

“Maybe not at his best, but still a pretty dominating performance,” Boone said.

Martinez was impressed … enough so that Severino was anointed a strong candidate to elevate his game to the point where no starting pitcher in baseball is on his level.

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.