YORK Three weeks ago, CC
Sabathia saw his solid season hit a detour when he limped off the field after
tugging at his left hamstring. The Yankees left-hander was supposed to miss at
least a month, but the recovery took less time than anticipated, and the veteran
looks to resume his strong year Tuesday afternoon when New York continues a
three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. Sabathia was
injured during the bottom of the fourth June 13 in what became a 3-2 loss to the
Los Angeles Angels
Josh Donaldson
Jersey. That contest started a seven-game losing streak and a three-week
skid that has seen the Yankees lose 14 of 20.Article continues below ... The
36-year-old Californian was among the reasons the Yankees were 15 games over
.500 when the injury occurred. He is 7-2 with a 3.46 ERA overall, 5-0 with a
sparkling 0.99 ERA in his past six starts. It is his longest winning streak
since he captured six consecutive decisions June 12-Aug. 24, 2012.I think it
important, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of Sabathia return.I think CC was
one of those guys that was a stopper all year long for us, was pitching at a
really high level and is really important in that clubhouse. So, I think it
really important. Sabathia is returning without participating in a rehab
assignment. During his recovery, he threw a 35-pitch bullpen session June 25,
then pitched a three-inning simulated game last Thursday.I feel good, Sabathia
said Monday.Im ready to go, so Im excited to be out there tomorrow. Sabathia is
16-9 with a 3.47 ERA in 28 career starts against Toronto. He last faced the Blue
Jays in Toronto on June 1 and gave up one run and five hits in 6 1 3 innings of
a 12-2 win
https://www.shopteambluejays.com/12-Drew_Storen_Jersey.
Toronto J.A. Happ will make his 10th start and sixth since returning from
missing 39 games with a left elbow injury. He is 2-2 with a 3.19 ERA in his past
five starts, including Thursday against the visiting Baltimore Orioles, when he
allowed two runs and eight hits in 6 1 3 innings.Early in the game I felt real
strong, I thought I was getting some early outs, keeping the pitch count down,
Happ said.I think any time you keep any team in this league, especially this
division, in this ballpark, in the ballpark, you give yourself a chance to win.
So overall, I feel pretty good about it. Happ is 6-2 with a 3.78 ERA in 14
career starts against the Yankees. Last season, he was 3-0 with a 2.14 ERA in
five starts New York. The Yankees will try to win consecutive games for the
first time since a six-game winning streak June 7-12. They opened the Toronto
series with a 6-3 win on Monday as Chase Headley drove in three runs and
Masahiro Tanaka pitched seven sharp innings
Paul Molitor
Jersey.It was a great start, Headley said.We need to continue to finish this
first half strong. Obviously, the last couple of weeks havent gone the way that
we hoped they would have, but if we come out here and play the way were capable
of for the next five games, then I think well be in a great spot going into the
second half. The Blue Jays will try to snap a five-game losing streak and
reverse a stretch of nine losses in 11 games. During the past 11 games, Toronto
is batting .226 , and several key hitters are slumping. Russell Martin is in a
6-for-33 skid, Kendrys Morales has six hits in his last 34 at-bats , and Josh
Donaldson is 4-for-36 .I think it pretty obvious, Toronto right-hander Marcus
Stroman said.Cant really dwell on that, cant really get down on ourselves. Just
have to do everything in our power to regroup and come in here and get a win.