Luis Severino. John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Yankees' Luis Severino doesn’t hate Astros despite cheating scandal

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Feb 23, 2023 4:35 PM ET

Plenty of New York Yankees fans hate the Houston Astros over the Astros' sign-stealing scandal. New York starting pitcher Luis Severino feels differently about the rival club.

"I don’t hate them," Severino said while at spring training, per Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "Yankees fans hate the Astros, but our fans hate Boston, too. Our fans hate a lot of teams. I can’t hate a team because they were better than us."

The Yankees famously fell to the Astros in the 2017 and 2019 editions of the American League Championship Series. As Dan Bernstein noted for the Sporting News, an MLB report later stated "that the Astros used their nefarious cheating methods throughout the playoffs" in 2017.

In 2019, Jose Altuve hit an ALCS-clinching home run against the Yankees but then refused to let teammates rip his jersey off during the post-game celebration. Yankees fans have since accused Altuve of wearing a buzzer under his shirt that fateful day:

"The Astros beat us in ‘17," Severino explained. "Whatever happened that year, I’m over it. When it came out they were cheating, it was depressing but they still won. What could we do about it? Same thing in ‘19. They beat us. We’re not sure about everything that happened with Altuve. Regardless of what happened, I think Altuve is going to be a Hall of Famer. If he made a mistake, it happened. But I still think he’s a great player."

The Yankees and Astros met again in the ALCS last fall. There was no controversy regarding that showdown, as Houston easily swept New York.

"Last year the Astros were the better team," Severino admitted. "Their pitching was unbelievable."

The Yankees last appeared in a World Series when they won the 2009 Fall Classic, and it's possible the Astros will again be standing between the Bronx Bombers and at least an AL title this year.

As of Thursday afternoon, OddsChecker listed Houston as the favorite to win the 2023 World Series at +650. The Yankees were tied for second among favorites with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets at +800.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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