Major League Baseball

Sabathia to pitch in Game 3 for Yankees

Published Oct. 1, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Ken Rosenthal

New York Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia wants to start as often as possible against the Detroit Tigers in the AL Division Series.

He will pitch only once, starting Game 3 in Detroit against Tigers ace Justin Verlander on Monday.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman ruled out on Saturday morning the possibility of Sabathia starting Game 2 on Sunday and then coming back to pitch Game 5 on three days rest, if necessary.

“We don’t think that's fair to him,” Cashman said. “If we want the real CC Sabathia, I don’t think you’re going to see that pitcher if you do that. No matter how much will and intestinal fortitude you have, I don’t think you’ll get that pitcher that day if you do that.”

Sabathia threw 27 pitches before the suspension of Friday night’s series opener before the bottom of the second inning. He also threw 48 pitches in a full, pregame warmup, and played catch with catcher Jesus Montero during the rain delay.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Friday night that pitching Sabathia on Sunday would not be “the right thing to do.” But Sabathia said that he would present his case to Girardi about starting that day.

“Sure,” he said. “If that means I get the ball as many times as possible, I’m all for it.”

The Yankees are against it. And that’s that.

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