CC Sabathia Makes His Season Debut As New York Faces Toronto

The veteran 37 year old left-hander CC Sabathia who was signed to a one year deal with New York in the off-season will make his first start of the regular season Saturday  as New York plays their third game of a four -game series in Toronto. 

Sabathia aims t o replicate a season that saw the lefty compile his lowest ERA since 2012 (3.38). He experienced a scare in Toronto last August, leaving a start after three IP with knee inflammation, though N.Y. believes it was unrelated to the turf."according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy

He will go up against Toronto right-hander Marco Estrada. according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy

Estrada believes he was tipping his pitches last season and that was one reason behind a disappointing 4.98 ERA. He attempted to fix the problem this spring and will now look to get back to the guy who had a 3.48 ERA in 2016. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/news/probable_pitchers/index.jsp?c_id=nyy

As for New York and Toronto's last game,

New York edged Toronto at the Rogers Centre on Friday when Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka made his first start of the season against Toronto right -hander Aaron Sanchez. 

The Yankees' pitching staff has frequently taken a backseat to the vaunted lineup, but through the team's first 18 innings, its hurlers have contributed a pair of gems to blend with that offensive thump. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-strikes-out-8-in-yankees-win/c-270161468

Masahiro Tanaka continued his career-long dominance of the Blue Jays by allowing one run over six strong innings, striking out eight and retiring the final 13 men he faced in the Yankees' 4-1 victory on Friday evening at Rogers Centre. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-strikes-out-8-in-yankees-win/c-270161468

"You always want to start out on a good note," Tanaka said through an interpreter. "I feel a little bit relieved right now. It just goes back to Spring Training and how I approached it. I went into all of the games with a theme. I felt like I stuck to it, and I felt like I did a pretty good job at it." according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-strikes-out-8-in-yankees-win/c-270161468

Tanaka permitted only three hits, including Randal Grichuk's homer in the second inning, his first for the club. Done after 79 pitches, Tanaka improved to 10-4 with a 2.85 ERA in 16 career starts against the Blue Jays."according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-strikes-out-8-in-yankees-win/c-270161468

"To get through six innings fairly pitch-efficient, I thought was really impressive," manager Aaron Boone said. "I don't think he necessarily had his best split tonight or even his best stuff, for that matter, but ... I thought it was really a quality effort by a mature, really good pitcher." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-strikes-out-8-in-yankees-win/c-270161468

Coupled with Luis Severino's stellar Opening Day effort, Yankees starters have limited Toronto to one run on four hits over 11 1/3 innings, with 15 strikeouts. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-strikes-out-8-in-yankees-win/c-270161468

Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton were held hitless on Friday night, but the bottom of the order picked up the slack against Aaron Sanchez , who allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings. Brandon Drury went 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBIs,Tyler Wade contributed a two-run double, and Didi Gregorious added a triple and a double. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-strikes-out-8-in-yankees-win/c-270161468

"It's a special lineup, for sure," Drury said. "One through nine is dangerous, the whole way through. We're excited about it and looking to keep it rolling." according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-strikes-out-8-in-yankees-win/c-270161468

A pair of two-out doubles off Aroldis Chapman brought the potential tying run to the plate in the ninth, but Grichuk struck out looking, and the Yankees opened a season 2-0 for the first time since 20 "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-strikes-out-8-in-yankees-win/c-270161468

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Started from the bottom: With runners on the corners in the second inning, Drury cracked a 95.1-mph Sanchez heater off the wall in right field for an RBI double, narrowly missing a three-run homer. The two-out knock immediately followed Billy McKinney's first Major League hit, a ground-ball single to right field. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-strikes-out-8-in-yankees-win/c-270161468

"I didn't know it was going to go off the wall," Drury said. "I knew I barreled it and hit it pretty good. I didn't know it was going to be that close to a homer, but I'll take it every time." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-strikes-out-8-in-yankees-win/c-270161468

Wade's first two at-bats against Sanchez -- a strikeout and a groundout to first base -- did not inspire confidence, but he was ready for a big bases-loaded chance in the sixth. Pouncing on a 1-0 fastball, Wade roped a double to center field, sending home Gregorius and Neil Walker , giving the Yanks a three-run lead. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-strikes-out-8-in-yankees-win/c-270161468

"Neil and Brandon put together really good at-bats, and I was just trying to feed off that. I got a good pitch to hit," Wade said. "It's a big hit. It's Game 2, but for me, each and every game is a big game. I was just fired up." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-strikes-out-8-in-yankees-win/c-270161468

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Yankees improved to 5-1 all time in the month of March. With another victory, they would secure their first series win in Toronto since Aug. 14-16, 2015, having gone 0-6-1 in their previous seven series at Rogers Centre "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/masahiro-tanaka-strikes-out-8-in-yankees-win/c-270161468

First pitch is set for 4:07pm. The game will be televised on Yes. "according tohttps://www.mlb.com/yankees/schedule/2018-03