CC Sabathia will take the extra rest - even if it costs him
CC Sabathia is slated to start Tuesday against the Twins, meaning he’ll be on seven days’ rest. While the lefty said the extra time off is a benefit to him at this point in his career, he’s actually been less effective this season with more time between outings.
The lefty is best when pitching on five days’ rest, with a 2.93 ERA this season in 10 starts. In seven outings with more than five days between starts, Sabathia has an ERA of 4.37.
Despite that evidence, Sabathia said he’ll take the additional time.
“At this point in my career, the rest is better for me,” Sabathia said Monday. “I’m not sure what the numbers are, but I know it’s good for me.”
Sabathia has battled discomfort in his surgically repaired right knee in the second half of the season.
Joe Girardi said again Monday his plan is to pitch Masahiro Tanaka on Wednesday, but reiterated that he could change his rotation after saying Sunday that Luis Severino might go on Wednesday instead.
When pressed about setting up the rotation for a potential wild-card game, Girardi said: “It’s still two weeks away. It’s a long way away.”
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But he also added his planning “might have already started.”
If Severino goes Wednesday, he could pitch three times before the end of the regular season. But if the Yankees want the right-hander to be ready for the wild-card game Oct. 3, pitching him twice makes more sense.
Regardless of which way they go, Sabathia knows he won’t be called upon for a wild-card game or even Game 1 of the ALDS.
“I know where I’m at in my career,” Sabathia said. “Wherever they want me to pitch, I will. I’ll be ready to go whenever.”
Aaron Judge hit his 44th homer of the season Monday, becoming the third Yankee to reach that mark since 1962. Alex Rodriguez hit 54 in 2007 and 48 in 2005 and Tino Martinez hit 44 in 1997.
Judge now has homered against all but one American League team — the Royals — who the Yankees play next Monday at Yankee Stadium in a makeup game.
Gary Sanchez stayed in the game after taking a foul ball from Eddie Rosario off his left forearm in the seventh. … Jacoby Ellsbury reached base all four times, (catcher’s interference, single, intentional walk and an error). He also had two stolen bases, as did Brett Gardner, as the Yankees stole a season-high four bases without being caught.
Aaron Hicks hit balls off a tee Monday.
“I’ve been running,” said Hicks, who has been out with a strained left oblique since Sept. 3. “I feel really good. I’m really close and should be taking BP here pretty soon.”
If he doesn’t suffer any setbacks, Hicks said, “hopefully I’ll be back on the field soon. It’s very important. I definitely want to get my swing going before the postseason starts.”
Adam Warren (lower back spasms) is also in a race against the clock to return in time for the postseason. He threw both days over the weekend and stretched it out Monday in hopes of playing long-toss Tuesday and throwing his first bullpen session Wednesday.