CC Sabathia Returns For The Finale As New York Takes On Cleveland In The Bronx

The last time we saw CC Sabathia he wasn’t on the mound pitching but in the dugout and still on the injured list before the veteran got thrown out of game three against Cleveland along with his manager Aaron Boone and fellow veteran Brett Gardner on Saturday afternoon in the Bronx.

On Sunday the veteran left-hander who is playing his final season in the Major Leagues will return to the mound against Cleveland after having a stint on the injured list because of his right knee that has given the veteran trouble as of late.

CC Sabathia was drafted in the first round and was the twentieth pick in the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft by Cleveland. “according to http://www.espn.com/mlb/history/draft/_/year/1998 where he spent eight seasons from 2001 -2008.

As stated above, CC Sabathia will return to start the finale. The veteran left-hander comes into the game with a record of 5-6 with an earn run average of 4.78. Sabathia returns from the injured list to start against his original club. He last pitched on July 27 against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, then landed on the IL once again because of his balky right knee. He will oppose Cleveland right -hander Mike Clevinger who comes into the finale with a record of 7-2 with a 3.34 earn run average. Clevinger will look to bounce back from a tough start against the Red Sox on Tuesday, when he allowed four runs on a season-high 11 hits over 4 2/3 innings. He had been on a roll prior to that, going 6-0 with a 1.83 ERA in his previous seven starts.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/roster/probable-pitchers

New York who is a member of the American League East and who is leading their division comes into the finale with a record of 83-42 while Cleveland who is a member of the American League Central and second in their division comes into the finale with a record of 73-51. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings

In the finale New York will aim to win the series while Cleveland will not only look to bounce back from their loss in the Bronx on Saturday but will look to earn a split in the process.

As for the previous game between New York and Cleveland.

It was a game of emotions as New York played their third game of the four game series in the Bronx against Cleveland.

Manager Aaron Boone, outfielder Brett Gardner and injured pitcher CC Sabathia were all ejected as part of a sixth-inning fireworks display, stemming from a contested strike-three call on New York’s Cameron Maybin. The outbursts added spice to what would be the Yanks’ 16th victory in 19 games, moving them a season-high 41 games over .500. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-2-of-4-yankees-homers-in-win

As for the scoring Gleyber Torres as well as Didi Gregorius took care of that. Gregorius and Torres mashed back-to-back homers in the fourth, and after LeMahieu went deep to chase Zach Plesac in the fifth, Torres added his second homer of the afternoon facing Nick Wittgren in the sixth. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-2-of-4-yankees-homers-in-win

Cleveland closed the deficit in the eighth as Yasiel Puig doubled, advanced on a single and scored on a wild pitch, but Zack Britton induced a key double-play grounder to escape. Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth for his 35th save. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-2-of-4-yankees-homers-in-win

As for James Paxton who started the game for New York, the left-hander overcame another shaky first inning to pick up his ninth win, limiting Cleveland to four runs and six hits over five frames.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/gleyber-torres-hits-2-of-4-yankees-homers-in-win

Meanwhile Cleveland was dealt their second straight loss in the Bronx.

There was no one else the Indians would rather have had step into the batter’s box in the top of the seventh inning, with Oscar Mercado on second base and the Yankees clinging to a 6-4 lead. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/carlos-santana-drives-in-3-in-indians-loss

Carlos Santana, who had been responsible for all but one of Cleveland’s runs on the day, walked up to the plate to face Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle. Santana had done his damage against New York starter James Paxton, hitting three singles in his first three at-bats -- two of which led to three runs for the Indians. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/carlos-santana-drives-in-3-in-indians-loss

In an easy 1-2-3 at-bat, Kahnle struck Santana out swinging to preserve the Yankees’ lead, and the Indians went on to lose their second straight game to the Yanks on Saturday at Yankee Stadium, 6-5. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/carlos-santana-drives-in-3-in-indians-loss

Santana has been on a prolific hot stretch in the month of August, batting .358/.500/.736 with six home runs, 15 RBIs, 16 walks and 19 runs scored entering Saturday’s contest. Though he couldn’t come up with the biggest hit of the day, he still carried the Indians’ offense, as he has throughout the season. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/carlos-santana-drives-in-3-in-indians-loss

That’s a clear contrast to the buffet of batters the Yankees had on display Saturday, as DJ LeMahieu, Didi Gregorius and Gleyber Torres went deep to provide most of New York’s offense. “according to https://www.mlb.com/indians/news/carlos-santana-drives-in-3-in-indians-loss

First pitch is set for 1:05pm from Yankee Stadium. The game will be televised on Yes and Fox Sports Ohio.