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Things could be about to get tough for these ace pitchers

By Rucker Haringey

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 28: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros reacts in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 28, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City.MLB players across the league are wearing special uniforms to commemorate Memorial Day. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 28: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros reacts in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 28, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City.MLB players across the league are wearing special uniforms to commemorate Memorial Day. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – MAY 23: CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees sits in the dugout during a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on May 23, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – MAY 23: CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees sits in the dugout during a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington on May 23, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /

4. C.C. Sabathia

Heavy pitchers aren’t the only stars who are going to make this list, but Sabathia is also a solid candidate for regression. Anyone who watches the Yankees on a regular basis can plainly see that is stuff is mediocre at best.

Sabathia does, however, deserve credit for remaking himself as a finesse pitcher. The days of him blowing 95 mph fastballs past opponents are over. Now he makes a living working the corners with his soft stuff and trying to sneak an occasional 90 mph heater by unsuspecting hitters.

There’s a ceiling to just how effective that sort of pitcher can be. Suffice it to say, Sabathia will not maintain a 3.73 ERA for the rest of the season. The Yankees should be happy if he can keep it under 4.50 as the weather starts to heat up.

The cracks in Sabathia’s game are already starting to show. He hasn’t lasted more than five innings in any of his last four starts. Giving up 16 earned runs in that stretch isn’t atrocious, but it’s not very good. Expect the burly left-hander to struggle to keep things together down the stretch. He may be good for an occasional brilliant outing, but consistency will be a serious issue for Sabathia and the Yankees as October nears.

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