CC Sabathia Faces Former Team As New York Aims To Bounce Back Against Cleveland
In 1998 CC Sabathia was drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Indians as the twentieth pick and spent eight seasons in Cleveland before being traded to New York in 2008.
On Saturday afternoon the veteran left-hander who is playing his last season in the Major Leagues will look to help New York bounce against the team who drafted him out of high school and even up the series while Cleveland will look to win the series.
New York who is a member of the American League East comes into the game with a record of 39-23 while Cleveland who is a member of the American League Central comes into the game with a record of 32-31. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings
As stated above CC Sabathia will start the game for New York. The veteran left-hander comes into the game with a record of 3-2 with a 3.61 earn run average. There will be some added emotions for Sabathia, who will in all likelihood be pitching his final game in Cleveland. Sabathia pitched for the Indians from 2001-08 and is 51-41 with a 3.81 ERA in 124 career starts at Progressive Field. He will oppose Cleveland right -hander Adam Plutko who comes into the game with a record of 1-1 with a 6.35 earn run average. Plutko will get the call back to the big leagues to make Saturday's start in place of an injured Jefry Rodriguez (shoulder strain). The right-hander started the year on Triple-A's injured list with a right forearm strain, but has made two starts with the Indians, posting a 6.35 ERA in 11 1/3 innings. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers
As for the opening game between New York and Cleveland,
New York suffered a setback. Domingo German has done a masterful job filling in for Luis Severino in the starting rotation so far this season. But in the opening game of New York’s three game series against Cleveland he suffered his latest setback.
The right-hander had his six-game winning streak snapped on Friday, when he allowed four runs -- three on a pair of homers -- in six innings in the Yankees' 5-2 loss to the Indians at Progressive Field. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-fall-to-indians
New York was up, 2-0, after three innings on Friday before squandering the lead. Tyler Naquin hit a solo homer in the fifth to tie the score at 2, and Carlos Santana delivered the biggest blow, a go-ahead two-run shot in the sixth inning. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-fall-to-indians
I actually think he’s close to being the guy we saw earlier in the season,” manager Aaron Boone said. “They strung together some good at-bats, and that’s a good hitting team. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-fall-to-indians
“You want to keep the ball in the ballpark, obviously, but Naquin got hold of one. And Carlos Santana hit a changeup out, but that’s a good hitter who is pretty locked in now.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-fall-to-indians
German also was unfazed by his ongoing struggles, even after absorbing his first defeat in six road decisions this year. His eight consecutive starts without a loss was the Yankees’ longest streak since J.A. Happ had 11 in 2018. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-fall-to-indians
“I have faith in myself and the team and in pitching,” said German, who was 9-1 with a 2.60 ERA prior to his last three outings. “These are the consequences when you miss pitches like that. I’m just getting started.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-fall-to-indians
The evening began on a good note for New York, as shortstop Didi Gregorius made his season debut, going 2-for-4, completing his eight-month comeback from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-fall-to-indians
Gregorius singled in his first two at-bats, including a sharp drive to right field on the initial pitch he saw from Indians starter Zach Plesac (1-1). “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-fall-to-indians
Former Cleveland prospect Clint Frazier opened the scoring for New York with an RBI double in the second, and Aaron Hicks hit a solo shot in the third. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-fall-to-indians
The Yankees have homered in a season-high 11 straight games, hitting 19 during the span, which began on May 26. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/domingo-german-yankees-fall-to-indians
While Cleveland meanwhile bounced back from their latest setback.
Zach Plesac can officially cross “first big league win” off the checklist, following in the exact footsteps as his Uncle Dan. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/zach-plesac-gets-first-major-league-win
The rookie right-hander allowed two runs on six hits through seven innings, throwing a career-high 111 pitches in the Indians’ 5-2 victory over the Yankees on Friday night at Progressive Field, a performance that warranted a celebration in the clubhouse after the game. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/zach-plesac-gets-first-major-league-win
He also had a text from Dan Plesac, informing him that they both got off to the same starts to their big league careers.”according to He also had a text from Dan Plesac, informing him that they both got off to the same starts to their big league careers.”according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/zach-plesac-gets-first-major-league-win
Dan’s first loss also came against the White Sox, his first win against the Yankees. Although Dan’s win came first and the loss second, the decisions were exactly how his nephew’s played out -- in reverse order -- 33 years later. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/zach-plesac-gets-first-major-league-win
Dan’s first loss also came against the White Sox, his first win against the Yankees. Although Dan’s win came first and the loss second, the decisions were exactly how his nephew’s played out -- in reverse order -- 33 years later. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/zach-plesac-gets-first-major-league-win
“Yeah, it’s awesome,” Plesac said. “ I never could have dreamed it like this.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/zach-plesac-gets-first-major-league-win
There’s been no easing the 24-year-old into Major League play. Plesac made his debut on May 28 at Fenway Park. He then traveled to Chicago and pitched in front of more than 100 friends and family members from his hometown of Crown Point, Ind., which is just 45 miles from Guaranteed Rate Field. But he had little time to catch his breath, as he had to prepare for his third start, against the Yankees. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/zach-plesac-gets-first-major-league-win
“You know, in Boston I had my closest family and friends there, and then we go to Chicago, my whole community is there, and I come here tonight and I got the whole city there,” Plesac said. “They were all there cheering for us. You can feel that. I really appreciate it, and I felt it while I was on the mound. The fans out there were incredible, and so it was a lot of fun.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/zach-plesac-gets-first-major-league-win
Despite his inexperience, he’s handled all three outings like a seasoned veteran. Through his first three outings, he has 1.86 ERA, giving up four runs in 19 1/3 frames. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/zach-plesac-gets-first-major-league-win
“I’ve learned that my stuff plays,” he said. “And now it’s going to be up to me to move forward and learn about more guys and better pitches to make in certain counts and just grow.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/zach-plesac-gets-first-major-league-win
In each of his first two trips to the rubber, Plesac was able to limit opponents to just one run, but his team didn’t give him the run support he needed to secure his first victory until Friday.”according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/zach-plesac-gets-first-major-league-win
With Cleveland trailing in the fourth, Jason Kipnis got the Tribe on the board with an RBI single to right before Tyler Naquin knotted the score at 2 with a solo shot in the fifth. The offense kept rolling in the sixth, when Carlos Santana blasted his team-leading 12th homer of the year to put his team up for good.
“I knew I had one more inning in me, at least,” Plesac said. "And I was ready to go back out, and I had to go out there and execute. I couldn’t start thinking, 'I’m gonna get my first win here,' because then I go out and make a couple bad pitches and the next thing you know, the game’s tied or we’re down.” “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/zach-plesac-gets-first-major-league-win
Plesac is just the third pitcher in Indians history (since 1908) to allow two runs or fewer in each of his first three career starts, joining Jeanmar Gomez (2010) and Cody Anderson (2015). “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/zach-plesac-gets-first-major-league-win
“I wish I could sit up here and take credit,” manager Terry Francona said. “The player development people, I hope their chests are out a little bit, ‘cause they’re responsible for where this kid is at in his career. And now we’re watching him get better, right in front of our eyes." “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/zach-plesac-gets-first-major-league-win
First pitch is set for 4:10 from Progressive Field. The game will be televised on FS1. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/schedule/2019-06 “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/schedule/2019-06