HOUSTON — Since CC Sabathia came out of a Single-A minor league game on Sunday with no issues, look for the veteran lefty at Yankee Stadium this weekend.
“He is now likely to join us at some point this weekend,’’ Aaron Boone said prior to a tough 4-3 loss to the Astros on Monday night at Minute Maid Park.
When the 38-year old Sabathia would make his season debut was something Boone and others were studying.
“We will work through that the next couple of days,’’ Boone said.
Barring more injuries to a rotation that is missing Luis Severino, who will undergo tests in New York on Tuesday for his inflamed right rotator cuff, Sabathia will take Jonathan Loaisiga’s rotation spot and likely start Saturday. Loaisiga will more than likely be sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
According to Boone, Dellin Betances threw to hitters on Monday in Tampa. Depending on how the right-handed reliever bounces back will determine the next step. Betances opened the season on the injured list with an impingement in his right shoulder.
“Probably a [simulated] game Thursday,’’ Boone said of the schedule for Betances, whose dip in velocity early in spring training was alarming and led to tests that revealed the problem. “We feel like he is making progress.’’
Former Yankees great Andy Pettitte visited the clubhouse before the game.
Boone said the Yankees are being conservative with shortstop Troy Tulowitzki’s strained left calf because, “Calves can be tricky.’’
Closer Aroldis Chapman reacted to the move announced Monday by the Trump administration that it is moving to end a deal allowing Cuban baseball players to sign contracts directly with MLB teams.
The change will again require Cuban players to cut ties with their national program before signing with teams.
“It’s definitely a sensitive topic, there are so many things behind it, anytime you are talking about baseball and politics it’s a very sensitive subject. I just feel bad for those young ballplayers who are not going to have the same chance to play here, it was difficult [to get to the U.S.] for a lot of Cuban players who are now playing here, the way we got here was tough to say the least,’’ Chapman said through a translator. “I don’t think it’s definite yet but we just have to wait and see what happens.
“For me and a lot of fellow Cuban players who have already established ourselves here and are fortunate enough to have our families here, it really doesn’t affect us here, we’re lucky but for those guys I mentioned before, it’s going to be tough because now the opportunity is being taken away and some of them still want to play here at this level, unfortunately they mind find themselves making difficult decisions in how to get here.”
— Additional reporting by Kevin Kernan