Kluber awed by bats; Aroldis' splitter 'gross'

TAMPA, Fla. -- It has been almost three years since Corey Kluber last pitched against the Yankees. Though some of the faces have changed from a batting order that hung six earned runs and a loss on July 12, 2018, the right-hander is happy to see that thunder on his side of the lineup card.

"Any Major League lineup is deep one through nine, but that's a different level lineup we ran out there today, and will run out on a regular basis," Kluber said during the Yankees' 7-5 Grapefruit League victory over the Pirates on Saturday. "You don't really have a chance to breathe as a pitcher pitching against them. You can't take a pitch off. You can't let your guard down."

Leading off what will resemble manager Aaron Boone's Opening Day lineup, DJ LeMahieu hit a three-run homer and scored two runs as part of a 2-for-3 performance. Aaron Hicks had two hits, including a run-scoring double. Brett Gardner started in place of Clint Frazier, who's likely to patrol left field on April 1 in New York.

"You're aware of how deep and relentless a lineup like ours is," Kluber said. "Going into it, you know it's going to be a battle that day. I speak from experience; they're all disciplined hitters, they're not going up there just free-swinging. They all can do damage, but they all have a plan. I think that makes them even more dangerous."

Backed by that stacked batting order, Kluber held the Pirates to two runs and four hits over four innings, permitting a third-inning homer to Troy Stokes Jr. Kluber walked none and struck out two, hitting two batters while throwing 36 of 54 pitches for strikes.

"Just continuing to progress," Kluber said. "I was happy with where I was physically, I was happy with the way my stuff was, so I think that was encouraging. There's definitely some stuff to work on afterwards; fine-tuning locations, things like that."

Grossed out
Aaron Boone happened to be speaking on the YES Network when Aroldis Chapman dropped an 0-2, 87.3 mph splitter on Stokes in the fifth inning, generating a swinging strikeout and prompting the Yankees manager to remark: "Wow. That's gross."

Chapman has used the splitter in both of his appearances this spring, and the closer believes it will be a legitimate weapon to complement his fastball and slider, prolonging his effectiveness.

"It's a pitch that he used in the playoffs last year when it was a very new pitch," Boone said. "I think that speaks to the quality of the pitch and the confidence he had in it, really in its infancy. Getting to hone in a little bit this winter and then carry it now in the spring, you watch him and it's like a pitch he's been throwing all his life."

Depth valley
Earlier this spring, Boone opined that the Yankees are showcasing the deepest group of arms that they have seen during his time at the helm. Bullpen coach Mike Harkey, whose tenure predates Boone's three-year run, said that he would agree with that sentiment -- quite a statement, considering Harkey answered the phone when the late innings were manned by Mariano Rivera.

"I concur with what Aaron has said about depth," Harkey said. "In my 12 years here, probably since 2009, '10 and '11, this is probably the most depth that we've had from starter to closer in a long time."

Harkey said that holds true even with the loss of setup man Zack Britton, who is expected to miss most or all of the first half following surgery to remove a bone chip from his left elbow. Harkey said that he expects the late innings to be handled in a hybrid role.

Catcher Kyle Higashioka mentioned Chad Green, Jonathan Loaisiga, Nick Nelson, Darren O'Day and Justin Wilson among those who will be challenged in big spots.

"The new guys coming in, they all look good and I've been very impressed," Higashioka said. "I think the one thing I'm most impressed with is the depth. It seems we have a ton of really good guys who can fill in for any situation. It's pretty impressive."

Ouch!
O'Day's submarining style has baffled big league hitters for years, and his movement provided a painful lesson for the Pirates' Tony Wolters during Saturday's game. O'Day generated a swing-and-miss at a 79.7 mph slider that darted in toward the left-handed hitter, striking him on the leg.

"I was happy because I got the strikeout," O'Day said. "For a second, I thought he was going to call dead ball. I don't know if the umpire saw it, but you know what? It's a hard game. It really is."

Boone chuckled, recalling that a young CC Sabathia once struck him out with a similar pitch.

"When you have good stuff and it's a unique angle, you can have a funny one from time to time," Boone said.

Sevy season
Luis Severino tossed 20 fastballs from a bullpen mound earlier this week, a significant step as the right-hander recovers from Tommy John surgery. Severino made his second climb to the mound on Friday, throwing 25 pitches.

"I've seen a lot of first-time bullpens after Tommy John," Harkey said. "Watching Sevy's is probably the most comfortable I've ever seen a player throwing in his bullpen [session] -- and probably the most aggressive I've seen a player. He looked like he had zero apprehension or zero worry about whether his surgically repaired elbow was sound."

Severino is eyeing a summer return to the big-league rotation, with many more bullpen sessions and batting practice sessions to come after the Yankees head north.

"He's worked his tail off to get to this point," Harkey said.

Bombers bits
Catcher Robinson Chirinos (fractured right wrist) is seeking a second medical opinion. Boone said that surgery is possible.

Up next
Deivi García will make his third start of the spring on Sunday as the Yankees visit the Blue Jays for a 1:07 p.m. ET contest in Dunedin, Fla. Garcia has pitched to a 3.60 ERA in five spring innings, notching five strikeouts in three frames last time out against the Tigers. Alek Manoah is scheduled to start for Toronto. The game can be heard on MLB Audio and WFAN.