Ron Guidry believes Luis Severino has what it takes to break his strikeout records with the New York Yankees.

"One of these nights, that kid's going to walk out on that mound and God's going to touch him and something magical is going to happen," Guidry said.

Guidry had an 18-strikeout game in 1978.

"He's got the ability to push 20, 21," he said. "I sit down and we watch a lot -- my wife and I -- we watch a lot of games. And I've already told her that he's going to have a night."

Guidry is also the owner of the Yankees' single-season strikeout record (248), set during that same 1978 season.

"Look, records are made to be broken," he said. "Mine has lasted 40 years. I think it's going to be him. As good as he is, he's going to go out one night and he's going to be blessed, and he's going to do something spectacular.

"He's certainly the ace of this staff, but he's turning himself into one of the best pitchers in baseball, OK? Because he throws as hard as anybody, but he throws as hard longer than most guys. He tops out in the seventh, eighth inning at 98 and 99 [mph]."