Last-place Yankees send Sabathia to DL
The struggling New York Yankees were dealt yet another blow Friday when starting pitcher CC Sabathia was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 5, with a left groin strain.
Sabathia's injury couldn't come at a worse time for the last-place Yankees, who lost Alex Rodriguez to a hamstring strain Wednesday, and are mired in a deep season-long slump. Entering play Friday, the club had lost eight of its last 10 to fall seven games behind division-leader Boston.
The news also came at an unfortunate time for Sabathia, personally.
The embattled left-hander, who returned this season after entering a rehab center for alcohol problems last fall, turned in his best start of 2016 on Wednesday when he tossed seven scoreless innings to snap New York's six-game losing streak. Through five starts, Sabathia struck out 21 batters over 28 1/3 innings while managing a 3.81 ERA.
Manager Joe Girardi told reporters Friday that Sabathia first felt the injury during the fourth inning of Wednesday's win over Baltimore, and the strain was revealed in an MRI after the game.
In a corresponding move, the club selected veteran left-hander Phil Coke from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and signed him to a major-league contract. Selected in the 26th round of the 2002 draft, Coke played the first two seasons of his career in the Bronx, compiling a 3.74 ERA over 84 relief appearances.