Photo courtesy of MLB4All
Just what the team didn’t want–another injury to one of the guys they depend on: CC Sabathia. Although Sabathia hated the thought and fought his hardest so Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman would change their decision, the Yankees ace was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday.
After his start on August 3rd against the Mariners, Sabathia initially felt pain on his left elbow two days later. He got an MRI which revealed nothing out of the ordinary so Girardi kept him in the pitching lineup. For the time being, the pain had drifted away but began to recently come back again.
Although Girardi recognizes that the pain is not as severe as it was after CC’s first start, the Yankees manager does not want to take any chances.
“It’s not any worse than it was after the first start, but our concern was that it didn’t go away. As far as concern, it’s pretty low.”
CC was slated to pitch tonight, but instead, David Phelps is the one to hit the mount. Phelps has previously had three starts this season, even though he is primarily a bullpen guy. He may not have an equal amount of stamina as Sabathia to last 8+ innings or pitch more than 100 pitches like the Yankees horse is used to putting up, but Girardi says Phelps will “be able to give us 75-80 pitches.” Over 52 innings this season, the 25-year old righty holds a 2.42 ERA.
Sabathia’s season is at 12-3 with a 3.56 ERA. The 6’7″ lefty will be eligible to come back from the DL on August 24.
