When New York Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia hit Tampa Bay Rays catcher Jesus Sucre with the first pitch of the sixth inning in Wednesday's game http://www.washingtonredskinsteamonline.com/alex-smith-jersey , it could prove to be the costliest pitch of his career.The plunking came after New York catcher Andrew Kittredge had a pitch come up and in on him in the top of the inning. Given Sucre was hit in an act of retaliation, Sabathia was tossed from the game...two innings shy from triggering a $500,000 performance bonus for the season, according to The Athletic's Marc Carig.Entering the game, the southpaw was at 148.0 innings this season, meaning he needed seven innings to trigger the bonus. It appeared as though as he was well on his way to doing so on Wednesday, as he needed just 54 pitches to get through five innings, allowing just one hit on the day.However, Sabathia prioritized defending a teammate鈥攚ho just happened to be his batterymate鈥攐ver his finances. That's the type of selfless act that could make the veteran pitcher a popular person in the clubhouse.As Carig noted, the six-time All-Star has always been a respected teammate:Marc Carig MarcCarigThat鈥檚 one of the most bad ass things I鈥檝e ever seen on a ballfield. And one day Authentic Matt Ioannidis Jersey , when CC Sabathia is done playing, it will be Exhibit A when people ask why he was a beloved teammate. YvdDHbsdR5Defending a teammate in an 11-0 blowout while throwing a gem with a half-million dollars on the line is the definition of a power move.Sabathia noted afterward that the bonus wasn't high on his priority list, via Carig: "I don鈥檛 really make decisions based on money."Sure, it's possible the Yankees could still opt to give Sabathia the $500,000 bonus or even have him pitch two innings over the final three games. But in all likelihood, this was the left-hander's final appearance of the regular season (and quite possibly of his career).Sabathia has, of course, made plenty of money in his career. Not only is he earning $10 million this season, but the 38-year-oldhas also piled up more than $256 million in career earnings over the past 18 years, perSpotrac.But $500 Matt Ioannidis Jersey Elite ,000 is still $500,000.Sabathia entered Wednesday 8-7 on the season with a 3.77 ERA and 135 strikeouts. While those numbers may not be as dominant as they once were for the former Cy Young Award winner, he has been a key member of the Yankees rotation this season. Mike Clevinger will make his last start of the regular season for the Cleveland Indians on Friday night against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.When and where Clevinger’s next start take place remains to be seen.All that’s known is that Clevinger’s next appearance will be sometime during the Indians’ American League Division Series versus the Houston Astros. That series begins Friday in Houston.Article continues below ...Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco will start the first two games of the Division Series. Clevinger could be used out of the bullpen in those games or, if he doesn’t pitch in either game as a reliever, he will likely start Game 3.That decision has yet to be made by Indians manager Terry Francona and his staff, but Clevinger said he’s ready for whatever role he fills in the postseason.“I don’t know what’s set in stone so far,” Clevinger told MLB.com. “But I obviously want to pitch as much as possible. I’d definitely like to get to start. Whatever (Francona) thinks is best.”Francona has a lot on his plate these days. In addition to setting up his rotation for the Division Series, he has been trying to give some of his position players occasional days off over the last week, but still trying to keep all his players sharp for the team’s third consecutive trip to the postseason.“I’m just trying to balance guys playing,” Francona told MLB.com. “I know people are paying to watch these games. I don’t ever want it to feel like there’s disrespect. So we try to put enough out there and do it at the right time.”Clevinger’s numbers this year are very similar to last year http://www.washingtonredskinsteamonline.com/matthew-ioannidis-jersey , when he was 12-6 with a 3.11 ERA. This year he is 12-8 with a 3.07 ERA. The biggest difference is his innings pitched: 121 2/3 last year, 193 this year. He is one of four Indians starting pitchers with more than 200 strikeouts — the first time in major league history a team has had four 200-strikeout pitchers.Clevinger’s last start was a no-decision Sept. 22, a 5-4 Cleveland victory over Boston. Clevinger pitched five innings, allowing two runs and three hits, with six strikeouts and five walks. His last start against Kansas City was a 9-3 victory Sept. 4, in which he pitched six innings, giving up one run and three hits, with 10 strikeouts and one walk.In four starts against the Royals this year, Clevinger is 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA. In nine career appearances (eight starts) against Kansas City he is 5-0 with a 2.37 ERA.Kansas City’s Friday starter will be veteran right-hander Ian Kennedy (3-8, 4.59). After missing nearly two months with an oblique strain Authentic Adrian Peterson Jersey , Kennedy was activated off the disabled list Sept. 9. He is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in three starts since.His last start was a 4-3 victory over Detroit on Sept. 21, when he pitched seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and seven hits, with six strikeouts and no walks.His only start against the Indians this year was a good one, a 1-0 win April 7 in which he pitched six scoreless innings on four hits, with eight strikeouts and no walks.In 11 career starts against Cleveland, Kennedy is 3-5 with a 5.34 ERA.
