CC Sabathia Returns To The Mound As New York Takes On Toronto As The United States Celebrates Independence Day

Veteran left-hander CC Sabathia will return to the mound Tuesday as New York takes on Toronto in game two as the United States Of America celebrates Independence Day.

 The  Yankees are expected to activate and start left-hander CC Sabathia from the disabled list before Tuesday's Fourth of July matinee against lefty J.A. Happ and the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170703240234854/cc-expected-back-to-face-happ-blue-jays/?game_pk=491362

Sabathia was in the middle of a resurgence as a finesse pitcher before landing on the 10-day DL with a left hamstring strain in mid-June. He had won each of his five starts leading up to his most recent outing against the Angels, in which he was credited with a no-decision after being removed in a 1-1 game before the bottom of the fifth inning.http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170703240234854/cc-expected-back-to-face-happ-blue-jays/?game_pk=491362

Happ has posted a quality start in four of his six outings since coming off the DL at the end of May with a left elbow injury. He has tossed at least six innings in each of his past four starts and is back to his 2016 form.

"For the most part, I'm feeling better," Happ said. "A couple of walks last outing, but overall, I feel like I'm getting to both sides of the plate better and better. My confidence with that is good."

Catcher Miguel Montero is expected the join the Blue Jays before Tuesday's game. Montero was acquired from the Cubs in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named.

The Cubs designated him for assignment last week after he told reporters pitcher Jake Arrieta was to blame for the Nationals' seven stolen bases against him.

"I've heard some good things about him," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He can swing the bat. We'll see. He's a good veteran. Left-handed bat ... Maybe he'll generate some offense, we're hoping."

Three things to know about this game

 Yankees reliever Adam Warren is expected to be activated from the DL before Tuesday's contest. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170703240234854/cc-expected-back-to-face-happ-blue-jays/?game_pk=491362

The Blue Jays' Russell Martin, Troy Tulowitzki, and Kevin Pillar didn't start the series opener but are expected to be in the starting lineup Tuesday. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170703240234854/cc-expected-back-to-face-happ-blue-jays/?game_pk=491362

 Despite going down as a quality start, Happ was far from dominant in his most recent start against the Orioles. In that game, based on the exit velocities and launch angles of the batted balls he allowed, Statcast estimated the expected batting average against him to be .366, by far his highest of any outing this season. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170703240234854/cc-expected-back-to-face-happ-blue-jays/?game_pk=491362

As for New York's last game, they defeated Toronto in the opener Monday with Masahiro Tanaka on the mound. 

162 games is a long season for any player or team so you're bound to go through times when you're not having success. 

That has been the case for New York right -hander Masahiro Tanaka as of late but he seems to be returning to form slowly but surely.   

 Masahiro Tanaka continued his resurgence for a third straight sharp outing, striking out eight over seven strong innings as the Yankees handed the Blue Jays their fifth straight loss, 6-3, on Monday night at Yankee Stadium. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/240234704/yankees-hand-blue-jays-fifth-straight-loss/

Stringing together back-to-back victories following an eight-start winless stretch, Tanaka permitted five hits and a walk in an 111-pitch effort. The recent run is accompanied by a spike in velocity; his average fastball has jumped from 91.8 mph over his first 14 starts to 93.5 mph in his past three. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/240234704/yankees-hand-blue-jays-fifth-straight-loss/

Masahiro Tanaka had this to say about his outing. "I think it's something that's coming naturally," Tanaka said through an interpreter. "I just really try to focus on one pitch at a time. I'm just really trying to execute each and every pitch. Sometimes I look up at the board and I'm surprised by myself at the velocity." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/240234704/yankees-hand-blue-jays-fifth-straight-loss/

As for Toronto's offense, Darwin Barney's  soft seventh-inning RBI single accounted for the only run off the right-hander, who improved to 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his past three starts. The Yankees won for just the sixth time in their past 20 games "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/240234704/yankees-hand-blue-jays-fifth-straight-loss/

When you put three of them together that are very similar, where his stuff is outstanding, you feel a lot better about where he's at," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/240234704/yankees-hand-blue-jays-fifth-straight-loss/

Headley was hit by a pitch in the first to force home a run and delivered a two-run double in the eighth off Ryan Tebera. Two more runs scored in the eighth on  Ronald Torreyes ' tapper back to the mound that resulted in an error, opening up New York's lead. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/240234704/yankees-hand-blue-jays-fifth-straight-loss/

Meanwhile, Toronto starter Marcus Stroman permitted two runs and five hits over five innings before leaving after 79 pitches with a blister on his right middle finger. Toronto touched Aroldis Chapman for two runs in the ninth, with Ezequiel Carrera and Barney collecting run-scoring hits before Headley made a diving grab for the final out. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/240234704/yankees-hand-blue-jays-fifth-straight-loss/

"We can't really dwell on that," said Stroman, whose team has lost nine of its past 11. "We can't really get down on ourselves, just have to do everything in our power to regroup and come here tomorrow to get a win." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/240234704/yankees-hand-blue-jays-fifth-straight-loss/

New catcher Gary Sanchez had this to say about Masahiro Tanaka "[Tanaka] has been really, really good in the past couple of starts," Sanchez said through an interpreter. "His split is really good, his slider is really good, the curveball. When a pitcher has all those pitches working, usually you have really good results." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/240234704/yankees-hand-blue-jays-fifth-straight-loss/

New York improved to 44-37 while Toronto dropped to 37- 45 on the season and is three games back of their American League East rival Boston.

Veteran left -hander CC Sabathia who has a record of 7-2 with a 3.46 earn run average will get the start for New York as he expected to be activated from the disabled list for an Indepence Day start. He sustained a left hamstring strain in his most recent outing on June 13 against the Angels. Sabathia gave up six runs to the Blue Jays on May 3.  He will take on Toronto left-hander J.A Happ who has a record of 2-5 with a 3.71 earn run average. Happ has posted a quality start in four of his six outings since coming off the disabled list with a left elbow injury. He has tossed at least six innings in each of his past four starts and is back to his form of 2016. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/blue-jays-vs-yankees/2017/07/04/491362#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491362

How will CC Sabathia perform in his first start since being activated from the disabled list with a left -hamstring strain he suffered against the Los Angeles Angeles of Anaheim back on May 13th? Will the New York offense be able to back up his start and get off Toronto's J.A Happ? Will Toronto be able to get their offense going against CC Sabathia? 

First pitch is set for 1:05 pm. The game will be televised on Yes"according to  https://www.mlb.com/gameday/blue-jays-vs-yankees/2017/07/04/491362#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=491362