Through two innings, it seemed as though CC Sabathia might actually get the 11 strikeouts he needed to join the exclusive 3,000 club. Of course, the former Cy Young Award winner — who once blew hitters away with his upper-90s heater — now relies on a steady diet of 89 mph cutters, paired with a vintage glass of 19 years’ experience in the big leagues. That combination was sufficient to beat the Royals on Friday night, though MLB’s active career leader in strikeouts remains six away from 3,000.
While he once again only lasted five innings, Sabathia has been everything the Yankees could have expected following his heart scare in the offseason; he’s yet to allow a single earned run this year.