Why the Yankees have a Luis Severino problem

Yankees ace Luis Severino has not been good in his last four starts. Manager Aaron Boone and Severino talk about why.

NEW YORK — Aaron Judge is hurt. Gary Sanchez, too. The Yankees were hoping to rely on ace Luis Severino to carry a struggling offense.

The problem: They don’t know what’s wrong with him, and whatever it is just keeps getting worse.

Severino turned in a fourth straight stinker in the Yankees’ 10-5 loss to the Royals, Game 1 of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

They won Game 2 with a late rally, 5-4.

“I don’t know what the issue is but I will make sure I work hard,” Severino said. “I have been through this in the past. I have to work and try to be myself again.”

Atlanta Braves scout Sonny Gray

Severino gave up six runs in 4 1/3 innings — his shortest start of the year.

He’s put up an ugly 8.85 ERA over his last four starts.

At various points, the issues have been the quality of Severino’s stuff, his fastball velocity and his fastball command. The latter was a problem Sunday, Severino said. His fastball average 97.5 mph, so that wasn’t the problem.

“We have to find the right adjustments in there to get him back on track,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I thought the first couple of innings, he was crisp. He looked like he just got out of sorts there, especially with the command of his fastball.”

Boone added, “”He missed with some fastballs in the middle of the plate and you could tell they were hunting them and put some good swings on them. As electric as his stuff is, command of the fastball is key for him and that sets up everything else.”

Neither Judge (fractured wrist) nor Sanchez (groin strain) is expected back until late August or early September.

The rest of the Yankees’ pitching staff hasn’t been impressive, either. In Game 2, starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia lasted just 4 2/3 innings. Masahiro Tanaka and Sonny Gray each were better in their recent starts.

The Yankees have newly acquired J.A. Happ going on Sunday.

“I don’t think it’s time to panic now, for sure,” reliever David Robertson said.

Not yet.

But soon?

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