MLB

CC Sabathia to test knee vs. live hitters

TORONTO — CC Sabathia will throw 35 pitches to hitters Tuesday in Tampa and the plan is, should the right knee pass that test, to have the lefty repeat the process before making a minor league start.

“My guess he will throw a couple of them and then we will see,’’ Yankees manager Joe Girardi said of Sabathia, who Saturday said the plan was for him to pitch in a minor league game this coming Saturday barring any setbacks.

Sabathia has been out since May 11 due to an inflamed right knee.

While Sabathia harbors hopes of returning before the All Star break (July 14-17), that’s a longshot. Sabathia did say Saturday he hoped he didn’t need five minor league rehab outings.


Having started 14 games in a row, Derek Jeter was not in the lineup for Monday night’s 8-3 loss to the Blue Jays. Brendan Ryan started at short for the eighth time this season.

“It almost gives him two days in a sense,’’ Girardi said of Jeter because Sunday was a day game. “I wasn’t going to run him out there nine days in a row.’’

With Jeter not in the No. 2 spot, Girardi used switch-hitter Carlos Beltran behind Brett Gardner and in front of Jacoby Ellsbury for the third time this season.

That trio went a combined 1-for-9.


Girardi’s reason for not skipping the struggling Vidal Nuno Friday night against the Red Sox begins with not wanting to abuse the other four starters.

“It’s too hard on the other pitchers. I said it the other day, one guy is 39 (Hiroki Kuroda), one guy has 19 starts (David Phelps) under his belt and one guy (Masahiro Tanaka) who is used to pitching every seven days,’’ Girardi said. “Phelps was pushed really hard the last time. I think it becomes difficult. If it’s later in the year you probably think about it.’’


The White Sox, who are listening to other teams about almost all of their players, had a scout at Monday night’s Yankees-Blue Jays game. They had an interest in catcher Francisco Cervelli in spring training but that has seemingly lessened.


Yangervis Solarte stopped an 0-for-28 slump with a ninth-inning RBI single. Solarte entered the game at third base in the ninth.

David Huff pitching 3 ²/₃ innings after Chase Whitley didn’t get out of the fourth was a bright spot since Girardi only had to use one other reliever (Shawn Kelley).


Asked about grabbing one of the two AL wild card spots, Girardi changed the subject quickly.

“Your focus is to win the division,’’ Girardi said. “With the wild card a one-game playoff the focus is to win the division. Obviously we are playing the team ahead of us. We have a chance to make up ground and they think they have a chance to put separation.’’