Yankees' Sabathia to make 1st start since knee surgery
CC Sabathia is just days away from making his first start in more than 10 months.
Sabathia, who hasn't pitched in a game since undergoing season-ending knee surgery last May, will return to the mound Tuesday when the New York Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla.
His last outing came May 10 in Milwaukee when the left-hander was hammered for four runs on eight hits in a Yankees loss. He made just eight starts with a career-worst 5.28 ERA before having surgery to repair degenerative cartilage in his right leg.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters he made the decision to stick with Sabathia's comeback plan after the six-time All-Star told his manager he felt great following his 29-pitch simulated start Thursday.
"The movement and life on his fastball, I was like, 'Wow. It's good - really good,'" Girardi said after the session. "I was really pleased."
Girardi also said ace Masahiro Tanaka emerged from his first start with no reported setbacks and will pitch on Wednesday against the Atlanta Braves.
Tanaka was sharp in his spring debut Thursday, retiring all six batters he faced and throwing 15 of his 19 pitches for strikes.