The New York Yankees officially removed CC Sabathia from the roster for the American League Championship Series on Friday, replacing him with right-handed reliever Ben Heller.
Sabathia would not be eligible to return should the Yankees get to the World Series, so the 39-year-old left-hander has made his last appearance in pinstripes.
Heller had a 1.23 ERA and nine strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings for the Yankees this season after returning from Tommy John surgery.
Sabathia's knee buckled and his shoulder seemed to give out as he tried to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning of the Houston Astros' 8-3 win in Game 4 of the ALCS Thursday night.