The CC Sabathia roller coaster is on the way up again.
That is where it began the season, before taking a major nose dive.
The veteran southpaw turned in his third consecutive strong start on Saturday afternoon, winning his third straight decision in the Yankees’ 3-2 victory over the Athletics at the Stadium.
“It’s baseball. It is what it is,” Sabathia said about his streaky season so far. “You got to keep going, stick with your routine, and try to come out of whatever kind of slump you’re in.”
Sabathia has pitched to a 1.50 ERA over this stretch, allowing just three earned runs over 18 innings pitched and walking just six while striking out 19. It is quite a change from his previous four starts, when he gave up 22 earned runs and 30 hits over 20 ²/₃ innings.
“When he’s attacking the zone, man, he’s filthy,” outfielder Aaron Judge said. “That’s what he was doing all day, commanding his pitches, putting them where he wants. It’s fun to watch, fun to play behind.”
Sabathia (5-2, 4.42 ERA) said the biggest reason his results have improved is his cut fastball. He is getting the pitch inside on right-handed hitters, which opens up the outside part of the plate for him. He didn’t alter his mechanics. Sabathia simply started executing better. One of the few poor cut fastballs he threw on Saturday was turned around for a home run by Josh Phegley in the seventh inning.
“I got a little lazy. That’s what was happening those four starts,” Sabathia said. “Just a little reminder to get that ball in.”
Sabathia’s stuff was impressive as he fanned nine, a season high, and allowed six hits over 6 ¹/₃ innings. He was ahead all afternoon, and made few mistakes. His fastball got up to 93 mph, and he commanded all his pitches, pounding the Athletics inside with his cut fastball, getting ahead with his changeup and breaking ball, and putting them away with a riding fastball.
“That’s something we talked about doing,” Sabathia said. “This is the team we really felt we could get that pitch going, and it worked out for us today.”