Yankees' CC Sabathia reinjures knee in loss against Indians, DL trip likely

New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia left Sunday's game with right knee pain and is expected to be placed on the disabled list.

Author:
SI Wire
Publish date:
Aug 23, 2015

Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia is expected to be placed on the disabled list after leaving Sunday's 4–3 home loss against the Indians in the third inning with right knee pain.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman guessed that the lefthander would need time on the DL to rest the knee, which has been bothering him all season.

Sabathia exited his start against Cleveland Indians after appearing to land heavily on his right knee. The same knee limited Sabathia to only eight starts in 2014. He underwent right knee surgery in July of last year. He underwent an MRI after the game, which he said didn't reveal much new except for a “bad knee.” Sabathia had fluid drained from the knee before the All-Star break, as well as a cortisone shot earlier in the week.

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Sabathia, 35, has struggled so far this season for the Yankees. He's 4–9 with a 5.27 ERA in 24 starts, well above his career ERA of 3.70. In July, he was hospitalized with symptoms of dehydration.

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Starter Michael Pineda is set to return from the disabled list Wednesday. The Yankees had plans to move to a six-man rotation with Pineda's return, and it's now unclear if that will be the case with Sabathia likely sidelined.

Sabathia signed an eight-year, $186 million contract with the Yankees before the 2009 season. He is owed $25 million next year, and has a $25 million vesting option for 2017 if he can avoid left shoulder trouble.

The Yankees, which entered Sunday with a lead over the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East, now trail the Blue Jays by a half-game. Toronto beat the Los Angeles Angels 12–5 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.

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