CC Sabathia pitched two innings in a simulated game yesterday and expects to make his next start with the Yankees on Tuesday.
“No problems,” Sabathia said after his 30-pitch outing. “I felt good. No pain anywhere.”
It’s another good sign for the left-hander, who has been on the disabled list with a strained groin. If he doesn’t have any problems today, Sabathia will throw a bullpen session tomorrow before rejoining the rotation against the Blue Jays.
Sabathia said he is confident he won’t be tentative when he gets back.
“Not after [yesterday’s session],” Sabathia said before the Yankees’ 6-5 win over the Angels.
Sabathia’s recovery pleased manager Joe Girardi, especially because the Yankees have seen groin injuries take a long time to heal — as happened with Andy Pettitte two years ago.
“If we get him back Tuesday and he feels good, I’ll absolutely [feel fortunate] because those things can linger, especially with the pushoff leg,” Girardi said of his ace. “If he only misses two starts with the injury, we’ll be fortunate.”
* Pettitte was back in The Bronx yesterday and was able to play catch with his left ankle and leg taped.
“It was good to be out there and throw my curve and cutter to keep the feel,” said Pettitte, who is lost for two months with a fractured fibula, suffered when he took a one-hopper off his lower leg on June 27.
Pettitte said he still expects to be back on a mound by the middle of August when the bone heals and with the Yankees by the beginning of September.
“I felt like I was just getting back in the groove and now I have to start all over,” said Pettitte, who was at home in Texas until Thursday and will have X-rays taken again tomorrow.
Pettitte also said he was concerned his stamina could be affected by the layoff.
“I’m worried about that for when I come back,” Pettitte said. “Hopefully, I get back to where I left off.”
* Brett Gardner (strained right elbow) took batting practice in Tampa yesterday and is scheduled to do the same today. If that goes well, the left fielder would play a simulated game tomorrow.
But Gardner’s comeback from his injury has been marred by setbacks and Girardi said the Yankees have given him more time off this time around.
* Though the Yankees expect Gardner back by next month, they signed free-agent outfielder Kosuke Fukudome to a minor league contract yesterday.
Fukudome, 35, began the season with the White Sox and was released last month after hitting just .171 (7-for-41) with four RBIs and two runs scored in 24 games.
“He gives us depth,” Girardi said of the former Cub.
* Joba Chamberlain (elbow surgery/right ankle dislocation) is scheduled to pitch in another minor league rehab game today. … Catcher Austin Romine began a minor league rehab assignment.