Mark Teixeira on 15-day DL, CC Sabathia nears return for Yankees
It was a good and bad news Friday for the New York Yankees.
Sporting a brace on his right knee, left-hander CC Sabathia threw a four-inning, 60-pitch simulated game and didn't report any pain, while the Yankees placed first baseman Mark Teixeira on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised right shin.
Sabathia, 35, could take the mound Wednesday against the visiting Baltimore Orioles, said manager Joe Girardi, should he continue to show progress in his recovery.
The New York Yankees put first baseman Mark Teixeira on the 15-day disabled list Friday night because of a bruised right shin
Sabathia has been on the DL since Aug. 24 and has a 4-9 record in 24 starts this season with a 5.27 earned-run average.
Recently, Girardi recently said there was a chance Sabathia would be done for the season, and said he was surprised at how quickly the pitcher had progressed.
The Yankees began Friday one-and-a-half games back of American League East-leading Toronto and holding the top wild-card spot.
Minus prime power source
Without the 35-year-old Teixeira, New York doesn't have a prime power source.
The DL move was made retroactive to Aug. 27, the day after Teixeira grounded out as a pinch hitter.
"I can't tell you when we're going to get him back," Girardi said, adding he wouldn't rule out the player for the balance of the regular season.
"I just have that feeling that we'll get him back," he said.
The Yankees will turn to rookie Greg Bird, who started at first base Friday night against Tampa Bay.
Bird has hit .254 in 18 games since making his major league with three home runs and 12 RBIs. Alex Rodriguez, Chase Headley and Brian McCann have seen limited action at the spot.
Teixeira leads the Yankees with 31 home runs. He's hitting .255 with 79 RBIs in 111 games.
Teixeira caused a bone bruise on Aug. 17 when he fouled a ball off himself. He missed a week, returned for one start and then a pinch-hitting appearance. He hasn't played a full season since 2011 because of injuries.
In a related move, New York recalled right-handed reliever Nick Rumbelow from triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
