MLB playoffs 2018: What Yankees’ Luis Severino was taught by Red Sox’s Pedro Martinez

New York Yankees ace Luis Severino breaks down what Boston Red Sox legend and Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez has taught him in their private workouts before Game 3 of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium on Monday, Oct. 8, 2018 (10/8/18).

Watch video

NEW YORK — Attention, Red Sox Nation:

If Luis Severino beats your team in Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on Monday night, blame one of your own.

Severino broke down what legendary Red Sox pitcher and Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez has taught him over the years that they have worked together while at a press conference in the Bronx on Sunday afternoon.

“The last couple of years I’ve been asked a lot of questions about that,” Severino said. “It’s not about he’s in Boston, and I’m a Yankee. In the offseason, we’re humans. He’s a great pitcher. He was a great pitcher, Hall of Fame. So when somebody like that offers to help you, you don’t say no to those kinds of people.

“Like I always say, we’re working and a little bit of mechanics, hiding the ball. But that was it. The little details that he thought was a little out of balance and stuff like that. But after that, that was it.”

Sanchez pulls a Yogi

Severino and Martinez each hail from the Dominican Republic.

In the past, Severino has credited the work he’s done with Martinez for his rise in the majors leagues. The right-hander has also had effusive praise for Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild, with whom he is tight.

And Martinez has been vocal about being in Severino’s corner.

Martinez has said he believes Severino has Cy Young-winner ability and that he could be one of the best pitchers in the game.

Recently, there was some confusion between the two, though.

On a TV broadcast, Martinez said Severino told him he was playing hurt, which could have been part of the reason the Yankees ace had a down second half.

Severino went 10-2 with a 2.74 ERA in 15 first-half starts. In the second half, Severino had a 3.99 ERA with a 9-6 record in 17 starts. Overall, he finished the regular season 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA in 32 games

Severino denied telling Martinez he was hurt.

“I don’t know where he got that,” Severino said, “but I didn’t say nothing about I was hurt. If you hear that from Yankees staff or something like that, maybe you can believe it, but I don’t know where you get that from. Like I always say, I care about my arm and being healthy. So I’m not going to go out there and compete if I’m not healthy.”

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.