MLB

Sabathia return up in air; may need knee surgery

CC Sabathia was back at the Stadium on Sunday, but Joe Girardi said he’d be “kind of shocked” if the Yankees left-hander was back on the mound when he’s eligible to return from the disabled list May 26. Worse yet, Sabathia probably will need surgery at some point, and the Bombers haven’t ruled out the possibility it could happen this season.

The 34-year-old Sabathia got a cortisone shot and stem cell injection in his right knee in Alabama, and returned to New York on Saturday night. Even though he came to the Stadium for treatment Sunday, he was unavailable to the media, departing before the conclusion of the first game of the doubleheader against Pittsburgh, a 5-4 Yankees win.

“I think anytime you deal with a degenerative knee issue, at some point in your life, something’s probably going to flare up,’’ Girardi said. “I’m not a doctor and can’t tell you when that’s going to happen. We’ll have to see. But it’s like when you have a degenerative back; it usually gets to the point where you have to have something done.”

While there were no firm timetables given, it’s seeming less and less likely Sabathia will be ready to pitch at the end of his 15-day DL stint, and with a degenerative condition in that knee, it’s more and more likely he’ll require surgery at some point. The question may be more when than if.

“I have not been told that [it’ll be this year], but I think you have to wait to see how this works,’’ Girardi said.

Sabathia coughed up five runs in just 3 ²/₃ innings on May 4, his worst start of a disappointing season. Then after surrendering four runs — albeit just one earned — in 5 ¹/₃ innings against the Brewers last Saturday, he finally admitted he had been suffering from discomfort in the joint for a week.

He went on the 15-day DL the next day. An MRI exam showed no structural damage. Yankees team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad reviewed the results, but Sabathia requested Dr. James Andrews take a look as well, and the pitcher flew to Birmingham, Ala., to see the renowned surgeon.

Sabathia (3-4 with a 5.28 ERA) underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in the knee in 2010, although the cartilage is seemingly undamaged. Nevertheless, his return time is unclear.

“I don’t know [his timetable]. Right now, I haven’t seen him. He’s been with Dr. Andrews the last couple of days, so when he comes in we’ll have a better idea,’’ pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. “But obviously the longer it goes on with treatment, the less likely it is. But until I see him and know what’s going on and sit down with the trainers, I won’t be able to say anything.’’