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JUPITER, FL - MARCH 8: CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees pitches during the spring training game against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium on March 8, 2016 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)

Yankees game 5 preview (4/9/15)

CC Sabathia enters the final year of his contract looking to put the last few seasons behind him. He makes his season debut against Mike Pelfrey, who is making his Tigers debut since coming over in the offseason from Minnesota. Sabathia won the fifth rotation spot over Ivan Nova after going 1-3 with a 5.51 ERA in Spring Training. He pitched 16 1/3 innings over 5 starts and looked shaky at best. According to Brian Cashman, his spot in the rotation is not necessarily permanent. He went 6-10 in 2015 with a 4.73 ERA before leaving the team in October to enter alcohol rehab. He faced Detroit just once last season. He pitched 8 innings giving up just 2 runs, but since his name isn’t Nathan Eovaldi he didn’t get any run support and took the loss.

The Tigers lineup has not been kind to the big man. Miguel Cabrera is 10-32 (.312) with 3 homers, Jose Iglesias is 6-13 (.462), Jarrod Saltalamacchia is 7-21 (.333) and Mike Aviles is 9-25 (.360) lifetime.

Pelfrey had a productive spring for Detroit, going 2-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 5 starts. He went 6-11 with a 4.26 ERA in 2015 after playing just 5 games in 2014 due to arm issues. He saw the Yanks once last year, giving up a single run over 5.1 innings in a no decision.

 

Tidbits:

Luis Cessa made his Yankee debut Friday sporting number 85, the first ever Yankee to wear that number.

Starlin Castro joined Babe Ruth and Bill Dickey as the only players with 8 RBIs in the team’s first 3 games.

Brian McCann is 19-42 (.452) with 8 doubles, 2 homers and 11 RBIs against Pelfrey.

 

1:10 pm on Yes.