Yanks’ Sabathia healing, could be on ALCS roster

New York — CC Sabathia could be on the New York Yankees' roster for the AL Championship Series after missing the previous round with an achy left shoulder.

The left-handed Sabathia sat out New York's three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins in the AL Division Series, but manager Aaron Boone said the 39-year-old is feeling "considerably better" after throwing a bullpen session Wednesday.

"Frankly, looked really good," Boone said. "I was really excited about how he looked."

Outfielder Aaron Hicks has also recovered from a right elbow flexor strain and is an option for the roster, and relievers Aroldis Chapman and Zack Britton are fine after suffering minor injuries Monday night, Boone said. New York will open the ALCS on Saturday against either Houston or Tampa Bay, which are set to play a winner-take-all Game 5 on Thursday night.

Sabathia, a 19-year veteran who plans to retire after the postseason, spent the final week of the regular season preparing to pitch in relief for the AL East champions before his shoulder flared and kept him off the ALDS roster. Boone said Sabathia is an option for the ALCS, but the Yankees haven't decided on their bullpen. If Sabathia is active, he'll pitch in relief either as a lefty specialist or to face three or four hitters.

Sabathia was 5-8 with a 4.95 ERA in the regular season, notching his 3,000th career strikeout and 250th win. Boone wanted to gauge how Sabathia felt Thursday before making a decision.

"I think that's the biggest thing: How is he going to be able to recover?" Boone said. "Do we think he can pitch in a game and legitimately bounce back and be an option the next day if he were to face a hitter or something like that?"

Hicks joined the team at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday after working out at the club's facility in Tampa, Florida, during the ALDS. New York hoped to watch him play simulated games in the Bronx, but rain forced players to stay inside. He faced live pitching in the cage and did other work.