3 reasons why the Yankees can get back in the series

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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 19: Pitcher CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees pitches in an MLB baseball game against the Minnesota Twins on September 19, 2017 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees won 5-2. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /

3. CC Sabathia starts Game 2

The Yankees desperately need to capture a split while they’re in Cleveland, and they have the right man starting for them in Game 2. Veteran CC Sabathia has been lights out when the Yankees are coming off of a loss.

The lefty was 9-0 with a 1.71 ERA in 11 starts following a loss during the regular season for the Bronx Bombers.

CC Sabathia was 9-0 with 1.71 ERA in 11 starts following Yankee loss during regular season. https://t.co/Z3eFyNqFkZ
— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) October 6, 2017

This game might add a little extra incentive for Sabathia as well seeing as he started his career in Cleveland. Sabathia’s road splits are also the very reason manager Joe Girardi chose Sabathia to start Game 2 over Masahiro Tanaka. Tanaka has been dreadful on the road this season, while Sabathia’s 3.18 road ERA during the regular season is actually better than his home ERA.

Sabathia has also had a lot of success in the ALDS in his postseason career with the Yankees. He’s 6-0 in eight starts in the division series. He also threw a complete game against the Baltimore Orioles back in 2012. His 3.24 ERA in the ALDS is his lowest at any stage of the playoffs.

Sabathia hasn’t gone longer than six innings in any start since Aug. 25, and he hasn’t thrown more than 100 pitches in a start since Aug. 31. It’s not because he’s had bad starts, it’s because Girardi needed him fresh for this game, and because the Yankees have an outstanding bullpen.

Sabathia is a gamer that much is certain, and the Yankees are going to need every bit of his big game experience in a crucial Game 2.

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