Yanks fear CC headed for DL stint
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The first cut hurt. How deep it is remains to be discovered.
Nobody expected the Yankees’ rotation to avoid injury across a six-month season that extracts a severe toll on starters’ bodies.
However, through Tuesday no starter had missed a turn. Then, CC Sabathia left the fourth inning of an eventual 3-2, 11-inning loss to the Angels with a strained left hamstring.
Immediately after the game, and before Sabathia was stuffed into a MRI tube Wednesday morning, manager Joe Girardi said he “anticipated” a stint on the disabled list for the veteran lefty.
Before Wednesday night’s game at Angels Stadium, the Yankees announced Sabathia had a Grade 2 strain after team doctor Chris Ahmad read the results of the MRI exam.
The club didn’t immediately put Sabathia on the disabled list, but late in the 2013 season, the left-hander went on the DL with a Grade 2 strain of the same hamstring.
“He feels OK and walking around pretty good. He said he feels better than expected so we will see what Dr. Ahmad says and we will have a determination about what we are going to do,’’ Girardi said of Sabathia, who was in the clubhouse but didn’t address the injury.
“We are going to make sure he is healthy before he takes the mound because there are risks of a lot of things that could happen. It’s a little bit too early to determine the timetable.’’
How long the 36-year-old Sabathia will be out should determine who takes his spot in the rotation. If it’s deemed a short-term problem (10 days at the earliest) the Yankees aren’t likely to summon a pitcher from the minor leagues who isn’t on the 40-man roster.
Girardi mentioned reliever Chad Green, who started this past Sunday against the Orioles so Tanaka could work Monday against the Angels, as a possibility to start Saturday or Sunday. Girardi said they could push Tanaka from Saturday to Sunday if that fit better, but the decision will be based on who is needed before then.
However, if Sabathia has to miss three or four starts or more, the Yankees could elevate Chance Adams, Brady Lail or Caleb Smith from Triple-A Scranton/WilkesBarre. Bryan Mitchell and Luis Cessa are pitching for the RailRiders who are on the 40man roster, as is Domingo German.
➤ If all goes right, Aroldis Chapman will be activated from the disabled list Sunday in Oakland, Calif., and return to the closer’s role
Dellin Betances handled flawlessly when Chapman went down with an inflamed left rotator cuff. Wednesday in Tampa, Chapman threw 23 pitches in a simulated game and Girardi said it went well. Chapman is slated to pitch for Double-A Trenton on Friday and then be activated Sunday.
Chapman’s last big league outing was May 12, and going into Wednesday night’s game at Angel Stadium, Betances had appeared in nine games as the Yankees’ closer.
➤ Wanting to give Aaron Judge’s huge legs a break, Girardi used him as the designated hitter Wednesday.
Rob Refsnyder started in right field and Matt Holliday was at first base. It was Refsnyder’s fifth start this year, but the first one at a position other than first base. Holliday started at first for the sixth time.
➤ The Yankees elevated righthanded reliever Ronald Herrera from Trenton to the big leagues Wednesday and optioned fellow righty Ben Heller to Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre.