DIVISIONAL OUTLOOK: AL East—Sabathia slowing down?

New York Yankees

Already reeling from a number of injuries to key players, the Yankees were seemingly dealt another when staff anchor C.C. Sabathia (LHP, NYY) stumbled on Opening Day (5 IP, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 K). Sabathia's velocity was down significantly (89.7 mph average fastball, 92.1 peak), and he was not missing many bats: The Red Sox made contact with 33 of 35 of Sabathia's fastballs, according to one local scribe, his swings and misses coming on his change-up.

Sabathia allayed fears somewhat April 7 by pitching seven shutout innings against the Tigers in his second start of the year. His fastball remained in the 88-91-mph range, however.

Sabathia is coming back from off-season elbow surgery, so perhaps all that is going on here is a...

Almost!

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