John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Yankees fell 3-2 to the Astros on Saturday in Game 2 of the ALCS, evening the series at 1-1.

Five things to know from Sunday's game

1.) For all the talk about the bullpen edge the Yankees have in this series, Game 2 proved that too much of a good thing can have its consequences.

Both the Yankees and Astros finalized their ALCS rosters on Saturday, and both CC Sabathia and Aaron Hicks will be available for the Bombers as they battle Houston for a World Series berth.

The Yankees, who went with a 12-man pitching staff in the ALDS, have opted for 13 pitchers against the Astros. Rather than have Sabathia replace a different pitcher on the staff, the team left both Tyler Wade and Luke Voit off the ALCS roster. Additionally, David Hale was designated for assignment to make room on the team's 40-man roster for Hicks, who had previously been on the 60-day injured list.

New York Yankees Announce 2019 ALCS Roster. Additionally, the Yankees have reinstated OF Aaron Hicks from the 60-day injured list and designated RHP David Hale for assignment. pic.twitter.com/mjXDdbFW1h

Tags: Aaron Hicks, CC Sabathia, Giancarlo Stanton

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The Yankees look to get things started on the right foot in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Astros on Saturday at 8:08 p.m. at Minute Maid Park.

Yankees notes

Aaron Hicks and CC Sabathia are back on the ALCS roster for the Yankees, while Luke Voit and Tyler Wade were left off. ... Hicks is not in the starting lineup, while Sabathia will pitch out of the bullpen during the series. ... The Astros took four of seven games from the Yankees in the 2019 regular season, including a three-game sweep in Houston. ... The Yankees have moved Gleyber Torres up to the third spot in the lineup after having Brett Gardner in that spot for all three games of the ALDS. 

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

For months, it seemed destined to be this way, Astros versus Yankees, a trip to the World Series the prize. There were some tense moments for Houston - well, at least until the first inning of that deciding game against the Rays - but here we are:  

Astro-geddon. Cole-pocalypse. A series of Judge-ian proportions. A Bunch of "Savages" versus Baseball's Best Team.

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Yankees are probably healthier than they've been all season and they're coming off a sweep of the Twins in the AL Division Series. But Aaron Boone and the rest of the Yankee brass still face questions heading into the next round.

The big one, of course, is Astros or Rays? We'll find out Thursday night when Tampa Bay and Houston meet in a deciding Game 5.

Once that's decided, they can work in more detail on the others. Here are three roster questions facing the Yankees as they prep for the best-of-seven AL Championship Series, which begins Saturday night in either Houston or the Bronx, depending on who wins in Houston Thursday:

The Yankees hit the field at Yankee Stadium on Thursday to get a workout in before heading into the ALCS. But they don't know exactly who they're going to be facing in that series just yet. 

The Astros and Rays will play their ALDS Game 5 tonight in Houston to determine who moves on and who goes home. And based off who does come away with the victory in that game could go into how manager Aaron Boone and the Yankees create their new 25-man roster for the ALCS. 

"It could factor in a little bit, definitely," Boone told the media on Thursday. "There could be a decision based on the opponent for a spot or two."

The Astros and Rays are still focused on their ALDS series that has now gone to a divisive Game 5 to see who moves on to the Championship Series. 

The Yankees, though, are patiently waiting in the Bronx, prepping for the winner of that Thursday night contest. 

It was a clean sweep of the Twins in their ALDS series, dominating at the plate and on the mound throughout. But even through all the success with the roster manager Aaron Boone put together, he and his coaches are still going back to the drawing board entering their next seven-game series. 

The Astros and Rays are still focused on their ALDS series that has now gone to a decisive Game 5 to see who moves on to the Championship Series. 

The Yankees, though, are patiently waiting in the Bronx, prepping for the winner of that Thursday night contest. 

It was a clean sweep of the Twins in their ALDS series, dominating at the plate and on the mound throughout. But even through all the success with the roster manager Aaron Boone put together, he and his coaches are still going back to the drawing board entering their next seven-game series. 

The Yankees have been decimated by injuries this year, with more than a dozen key players going down. Check back here for the latest updates on the walking wounded.  

October 9, 1:00 PM:

Zack Britton jammed his right ankle on first base during Game 3 against the Twins while making a bang-bang play to record an out. And though he was limping off the mound and into the dugout, it doesn't look like he'll be missing any postseason time. 

According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, Britton will be on the Yankees' ALCS roster when Aaron Boone puts it together before Saturday's start to the new series. That's great news to hear considering Britton is the Yanks' best lefty reliever, minus closer Aroldis Chapman, out in the pen. 

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

When to lift your starter?

Analytics-driven game planning calls for managers to remove starting pitchers before they start to struggle. This is a major change from the traditional approach, when you waited for the guy to labor before taking him out.

The Yankees announced their 25-man roster for the ALDS against the Twins on Friday. They'll carry 12 pitchers and 13 position players. 

Ready or not, here we come.#NextManUp pic.twitter.com/yAIWruHDLY

- New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 4, 2019

Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced on Thursday the team's probable starting pitchers for the first three games of the ALDS. 

Though CC Sabathia wasn't expected to be one of them, Boone also announced that the left-hander would be left off the series roster entirely.

"It's tough," Sabathia said at Thursday's media availability. "Obviously being here and not being able to participate in the series is rough. But I didn't want to put the team in jeopardy. I didn't want to be selfish, go out there hurt and put the team in a bad spot."

Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced his starting rotation for the ALDS series against the Twins, but also made sure to note that CC Sabathia won't be on the roster. 

It will be James Paxton getting the ball in Game 1, followed by Masahiro Tanaka in Game 2 and Luis Severino getting the first road start of the series in Game 3. 

"Difficult decision," Boone told reporters about what went into the rotation configuration. "Frankly, I went back and forth on it daily, sometimes a few times over the course of a day. Really what it came down to -- the reason that was -- is because I feel like all those guys are in a good place. I throw J.A. Happ in that mix, too, I feel like is throwing the ball as well as he has at any point in the season. Felt like it was a good decision and then just trying to hopefully maximize those guys as best we can. 

Manager Aaron Boone -- along with the rest of the Yankees staff -- still has some decisions to make regarding the ALDS roster. But Boone said on Wednesday that those will come in their final meetings Wedneday night to finalize their best 25-man group in their mind.

Boone, though, has a vision in his mind right now of how his group will shake out. 

"In my head right now, I'm pretty clear about which way we're going to go," he said. "In my mind, it's starting to come together how I pick us lining up our starters, what our roster looks like. Again, it's about us meeting today and kinda finalizing those things. I can certainly envision how it might look and how we might roll it out."

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- The script when you use an opener, as the Yankees did on Wednesday and will likely do at least once in the division series, is supposed to flow like this: The opener blazes through a dominant one or two innings, then a starting pitcher -- the "bulk guy"  -- enters to more favorable matchups down the lineup.

These innovations, pioneered by the brilliant Tampa Bay Rays last season and since imitated by other clubs, have helped teams maximize their pitchers' strengths and steal wins from what would have been back-of-the-rotation slogs. The opener is a fascinating hack of the game, and will only become more widespread.

But what happens when the strategy goes sideways, as it did for the Yanks and Jonathan Loaisiga on Wednesday?

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

St. Petersburg, Fla. -- From the front office down to manager Aaron Boone, the Yankees have been loath in recent weeks to discuss specifics of their playoff pitching plans.

But with internal discussions intensifying and the regular season drawing to a close, the team is finally beginning to tip its thought process. There's no way to audition pitchers for new roles without showing the public, and the Yanks need to peek at CC Sabathia and J.A. Happ during this two-game series at Tropicana Field.

The Yankees fell to the Rays, 2-1, in 12 innings on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. >> Box score

Five takeaways from Tuesday's game...

1) Jordan Montgomery started as the Yankees' opener, and he pitched well. Over his two innings of work, the lefty allowed three hits, but he didn't give up any runs, while striking out three Rays. The way the Yankees deploy their pitching over their final handful of games will be very interesting to watch as the playoffs approach. On Wednesday, the Bombers had planned to use Chad Green as an opener before turning the ball over to J.A. Happ, but Green pitched out of the bullpen on Tuesday in extras. 

The Yankees fell to the Rays, 2-1, in 12 innings on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. >> Box score

Five takeaways from Tuesday's game...

1) Jordan Montgomery started as the Yankees' opener, and he pitched well. Over his two innings of work, the lefty allowed three hits, but he didn't give up any runs, while striking out three Rays. The way the Yankees deploy their pitching over their final handful of games will be very interesting to watch as the playoffs approach. On Wednesday, the Bombers had planned to use Chad Green as an opener before turning the ball over to J.A. Happ, but Green pitched out of the bullpen on Tuesday in extras. 

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

CC Sabathia keeps statistical company with Hall-of-Famers. He has the same WAR as Dazzy Vance, and he's accumulated more than Juan Marichal and Don Drysdale. His ERA-plus is better than that of Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan and Fergie Jenkins, among others.

Sabathia is also one of only 17 pitchers with 3,000 strikeouts -- among the first 16, only Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling aren't honored in Cooperstown. And he's the 14th pitcher in MLB history to have 250 victories and 3,000 strikeouts. From that list, everyone but Clemens is enshrined.

Throw in Sabathia's 2007 AL Cy Young Award, the 2009 ALCS MVP, a ring with the 2009 Yankees, a nifty peak from 2006-12 and a rep as one of the best teammates around, and it's clear Sabathia has a tremendous Cooperstown resume.

The Yankees honored LHP CC Sabathia prior to Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, which serves as the final regular season home game of his career. 

New York posted a tribute video of some MLB players--including current and former teammates of Sabathia's--that was shown at Yankee Stadium.

Bronx legend. Baseball legend. Thank you, CC. #LegaCCy pic.twitter.com/EkDEC3oMwU

Tags: CC Sabathia

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Ahead of Sunday's regular season home finale against the Blue Jays, the Yankees will hold a pre-game ceremony for CC Sabathia, who is retiring from baseball after 19 years in the game.

Now that his final start is in the books, Sabathia will be a desginated "bullpen guy" over the remaining games of the season, and into the postseason, leading some to question whether he could return to the Yankees in a similar role next season--but that isn't something he's considering.

"Come back and play? Helllllllllllllllllll no," Sabathia said, as reported by Linsey Adler of the Athletic.

On Wednesday night, CC Sabathia walked off the mound at Yankee Stadium for the final time in a regular season game.

The veteran's status for the postseason roster has been up in the air, but on Friday, Aaron Boone may have dropped a hint about how Sabathia could be used in October.

"CC's going to pitch out of the pen, at least a couple of times probably on the road trip," Boone said. "He'll probably pitch once in Texas and hopefully once in Texas. We're still talking through some scenarios and options, but that's one we know for sure."

The Yankees have officially clinched the AL East title on Thursday night, doing so for the first time since 2012. Now the only thing left to play for is home field advantage throughout the postseason, which the Astros and Bombers are currently locked in to with 100 wins apiece.

As the Yankees ride out the rest of the season, the next phase of their journey to the World Series will be putting together the 25-man postseason roster. 

One big advantage GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone possess this year is roster depth, something that has gotten them through all the injuries that have plagued the team throughout the season. Players like Gio Urshela, DJ LeMahieu, Cameron Maybin, Mike Tauchman, and others have stepped up when called upon, and that should continue in October. 

The Yankees (99-54, 9.0 GA in AL East) can once again try to clinch the AL East with a win over the Angels (69-83, 30.5 GB in AL West) at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night, with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m.

Yankees notes

The Yankees' magic number for the AL East title remained at one after last night's 3-2 loss to the Angels... They can claim the title with a win or a Rays' loss to the Dogers Thursday night. ... Giancarlo Stanton made his return to the lineup Wednesday night after being reinstated from the 60-day IL. ...went 1-for-3 with one strikeout in the loss ... CC Sabathia pitched for his final time at Yankee Stadium Wednesday night, leaving the mound after throwing for 2.2 innings. ... A win tonight would give the Yankees' their 21st 100-win season in franchise history and their first back-to-back 100 win seasons since doing so three years in a row from 2002-2004. ... The MLB also placed Domingo German on administrative leave under the joint MLB-MLBPA Domestic Voilence Policy.

The past six years of Yankees history have been marked by retiring legends. That continues this October when C.C. Sabathia joins Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez as the next man to forever hang up that pinstripe jersey.

After making his Major League debut in Cleveland in 2001, Sabathia, his once-unstoppable fastball, and large frame have become synonymous with New York. And the lefty just pitched his final regular season start at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night, leaving with a tip of his cap to the crowd giving him a nice ovation.

Recording his 3,000th strikeout this season and being a major force behind the Yanks' last World Series-winning season are undoubtedly career highlights, but there's almost too many moments to list from his Hall of Fame-worthy resume.

With two outs in the top of the third inning of Wednesday's game against the Angels, CC Sabathia walked off the mound at Yankee Stadium for possibly the last time.

CC leaves the Yankee Stadium mound for the last time 😢



(via @YESNetwork) pic.twitter.com/W8iKjb2SKb

- Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) September 18, 2019

Clinching the AL East will have to wait, for now, as the Yankees fell to the Angels 3-2 on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. >> Box Score

Five takeaways from Wednesday's game...

1) CC Sabathia was pulled from the game with two outs in the top of the third inning, with two runners on. For potentially the final time, he walked off the mound at Yankee Stadium, as fans gave him a standing ovation and his teammates met him at the top of the dugout steps. Sabathia likely will not make the Yankees' postseason roster, meaning he may have pitched his final game in the Bronx after 11 seasons with the Bombers. Sabathia allowed two earned runs in 2.2 innings, striking out four. 

The Yankees (99-53, 10.0 GA in AL East) can clinch the AL East with a win over the Angels (68-83, 30.5 GB in AL West) at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night, with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m.

Yankees notes

The Yankees' magic number is down to one, meaning they can clinch the AL East on Wednesday with a win or a Rays' loss to the Dodgers. ... Giancarlo Stanton makes his return to the lineup after being reinstated from the 60-day IL. ... A win tonight would give the Yankees' their 21st 100-win season in franchise history. ... The Yankees also placed Dellin Betances on the 60-day IL with a partial tear of his Achilles.

The Yankees (98-53, 9.0 GA in AL East) begin their final homestand of the regular season against the Angels (68-82, 29.5 GB in AL West) Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees notes

Dellin Betances and Jordan Montgomery made their season debuts Sunday, but the Yankees fell 6-4 to the Blue Jays and lost the series 2-1. Betances allowed no hits or earned runs and struck out two batter in 0.2 innings pitched, while Montgomery also struck out another two, but allowed three earned runs on four hits in 2.0 innings of relief. Aaron Judge hit his 23rd home run of the season in the first inning. The Yankees' magic number remains at 2 with 11 games to play and are close to securing their first division title since 2012.

The Yankees (97-51, 10.0 GA in AL East) start a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays (57-90, 39.5 GB in AL East) at 7:07 p.m. at the Rogers Centre.

Yankees notes

The Yankees won both ends of their doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. They won the first game 10-4, thanks to two two-run homers from Luke Voit and Edwin Encarnacion. In the second game of the day, the Yanks won 6-4 after CC Sabathia and Domingo German both struck out five batters. Encarnacion left the first game with a strained left oblique, while J.A. Happ left with bicep tendinitis. Then in the second game, Gary Sanchez left with left groin tightness, and RHP Tommy Kahnle injured his finger in a dugout incident.

The Yankees got out to an early lead thanks to an Aaron Judge home run in their 6-4 win over the Tigers in Game 2 of the team's doubleheader. >> Box Score

Five takeaways from Thursday's Game 2...

1) CC Sabathia threw 56 pitches in just 3.1 innings during his first start since returning from the IL. The lefty allowed only two earned runs on three hits, ands struck out five batters. Domingo German then came in and struck out five batters on two hits, as he threw 50 pitches in four innings of work.

The Yankees (96-51, 9.0 GA in AL East) take on the Detroit Tigers (43-101, 45.5 GB in AL Central) at Comerica Park for the second game of a Thursday doubleheader.

Yankees notes

Luke Voit and Edwin Encarnacion both homered for the Yankees in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader, a 10-4 Yankees win. ... Encarnacion was pulled from the first game due to a left oblique strain, with the team announcing that he would head back to New York for more tests. ... DJ LeMahieu went 0-for-6 with strikeouts in Game 1. ... The Yankees moved ahead of the Twins for the most home runs hit as a team this season (278).

Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |

After Game 1 of last year's division series loss to Boston, Aaron Boone had some cleaning up to do with his starting pitcher.

J.A. Happ, who had been removed with no outs in the third inning, was in Boone's office, and he was angry. He felt he should have had the chance to turn his performance around and save the bullpen.

But as Happ sat in a chair in the tiny room at Fenway, Boone and pitching coach Larry Rothschild calmly explained their rationale: They had a strong relief corps, were unwilling to let the game get away from them, and preferred other matchups in that inning. Happ left the office satisfied, and appreciative of the open exchange.

The Yankees (95-50, 8.0 GA in AL East) took a six-run lead against the Detroit Tigers (43-11, 45.5 GB in AL Central, 40.5 GB in AL Wild Card) on Tuesday, but ultimately fell on the road 12-11. New York looks to rebound on Wednesday with a 6:40 p.m. first pitch from Comerica Park.

Yankees notes

Both Didi Gregorius (2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI) and Brett Gardner (2-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI) had two homers on Tuesday, however, Gardner is out of Wednesday's starting lineup as Cameron Maybin starts in center field since a lefty is starting on the mound for the Tigers. Gardner also now has a single-season career-high 23 home runs after his double... Gleyber Torres hit his 36th home run of the season on Tuesday and has 60 in 256 career games, the second-highest total for a Yankee in his first two seasons, trailing Joe DiMaggio's 75 in 1936-37.

John Harper, SNY.tv | Twitter |

The Yankees have already played their last big series of the season, taking down the Dodgers in LA last weekend, so there won't be much September suspense, at least not in terms of clinching their first AL East title since 2012. 

But their remarkable ability to overcome injuries continues to make this a compelling march to October, and indeed as the intrigue begins to build toward the postseason, there is no shortage of storylines surrounding this team.

The Yankees (88-48, 10 GA in AL East) host the Oakland Athletics (78-56, 9 GB in AL West, 1 GA in AL Wild Card) in Game 2 of their three-game set at Yankee Stadium on Saturday at 1:05 p.m.

Yankees notes

The Yankees fell 8-2 on Friday to A's and are now 0-4 head-to-head against Oakland this season. Since 2015, the Yankees have a 12-19 record vs. the A's, their worst record vs. any AL team in that time span. ... The Yankees moved two players to the 10-day IL, putting 3B Gio Urshela (groin) there on Friday, and LHP CC Sabathia (knee) on Saturday morning. ... In a corresponding move, RHP Jonathan Loaisiga was recalled from Triple-A Scranton. ... Luke Voit played in his first game since July 30 on Friday, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. ... Aaron Judge was also 2-for-4 on Friday, his third straight multi-hit game. He's hitting .372 in his last 10 games.

Just a day removed from his short outing, the Yankees have put CC Sabathia on the 10-day injured list, the team announced on Saturday. 

Against the Oakland Athletics on Friday, Sabathia left eventual 8-2 loss after three innings because his right knee injury flared up again. He allowed just one hit before being pulled. 

Sabathia was flexing his knee after a pitch in the third and short time later the team announced he was leaving the game. Following the contest, Sabathia commented on his nagging injury.  

Anthony McCarron, SNY.tv | Twitter |

CC Sabathia only lasted three innings Friday night because of pain in his right knee that he ranked as a "10" on the ache scale. He wants to pitch again this season, even plans to, but he has no way of knowing if he can until his knee is drained on Saturday and he possibly gets a cortisone shot. 

"It's frustrating, for sure," Sabathia said after the Yankees lost - again - to Oakland, this time by an 8-2 score at Yankee Stadium. "I feel like I can still get outs and help the team."

But Sabathia's status may help the Yankees avoid a thorny October question. Before his knee started bothering him again while batting during his previous start in Los Angeles, it was unclear where he fit into the Yankees postseason pitching plans. Sabathia, who has authored a Cooperstown-worthy career, has pitched in big games for the Yankees before and holds lofty status inside their clubhouse.

With the Yankees and Athletics tied at 1-1 after three innings, the Yankees abruptly turned the ball over to their bullpen.

CC Sabathia, who has dealt with knee problems off and on all season long, allowed just one hit through the first three, a Jurickson Profar solo home run.

Sabathia was seen flexing his right knee in the top of the third inning after a pitch to A's shortstop Marcus Semien. The Yankees announced later in the game that Sabathia was pulled due to right knee discomfort.

The Yankees fell to the A's 8-2 on Friday night at Yankee Stadium. >> Box Score

Four takeaways from Friday's game

1) CC Sabathia allowed just one run through three innings of work, with that one run coming on a Jurickson Profar second inning home run. But the veteran's night came to an end abruptly after 48 pitches. He was seen favoring his right knee in the third, and the Yankees pulled him due to right knee discomfort, the team announced later in the game. Sabathia has dealt with knee issues on and off this season, with Friday's start being his third since coming off the IL.

The Yankees (88-47, 11.0 GA in AL East) begin a three-game set with the Oakland Athletics (77-56, 9.0 GB in AL West, 1.0 GA for second Wild Card) on Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees notes

DJ LeMahieu has very good numbers against A's starter Brett Anderson, hitting .385 with a home run in 13 career at-bats versus the lefty. ... With a win on Friday, the Yankees would finish the month of August with a  21-8 record. ... The 21 wins would surpass their 20 wins in May as their best single month of the season. ... Luke Voit makes his return to the Yankees lineup after being activated off the Injured List.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman was confident when he extended a two-year, $34 million contract to veteran LHP J.A. Happ this offseason.

Despite other pitchers out on the free agent market, it was a sensible move by him. Happ came over from the Blue Jays at the trade deadline last season to bolster the Yankees' rotation, mainly because he was a Red Sox killer over his career. It may not have panned out in the postseason when the two teams met -- Happ was on the losing end of Game 1 of the ALDS after allowing five runs over two innings -- but he owned a 2.69 ERA over 11 starts before that. 

Looking back on that now, though, it's hard to defend that signing. 

The interleague battle wraps up on Sunday night as the Yankees (84-47, 8.5 GA in AL East) face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers (86-45, 21.0 GA in NL West) at Dodger Stadium at 7:05 p.m.

Yankees notes

 The Yankees lost to the Dodgers 2-1 on Saturday afternoon, evening the series at one apiece. CC Sabathia pitched four mediocre innings, allowing two earned runs, five hits and striking out seven batters. Dodgers 3B Justin Turner hit a two-run homer in the third inning off of Sabathia, giving him 23 home runs on the season. Aaron Judge delivered home run No. 15 on the season, and the Yankees only RBI of the day with a solo home run in the fourth inning.

The Yankees fell to the Dodgers 2-1 on Saturday afternoon, despite Aaron Judge hitting a home run for the second straight game. >> Box Score

Five takeaways from Saturday's game

1) CC Sabathia threw 78 pitches in just four innings of work, allowing two earned runs on five hits and striking out seven Dodgers' batters. The lefty failed to make it past the fifth inning for the fourth-straight game. Last time he made it through five innings was on July 16 against the Rays when he threw 6.0 innings. 

The Yankees (83-46, 8.0 GA in AL East) take on the Los Angeles Dodgers (85-44, 20.5 GA in NL West) at Dodger Stadium Friday at 10:10 p.m. to begin a three-game series with the two-time defending National League champions.

Yankees notes

Gleyber Torres went 4-for-4 with a pair of homers in Thursday's loss to the A's. He now has 31 home runs on the season... Gio Urshela had a rare down night, going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts... Aaron Judge reached base three times on Thursday, going 2-for-3 with a walk, but the three hitters behind him (Didi Gregorius, Urshela and Gary Sanchez) combined to go 1-for-12 behind him.

The Yankees (83-43, 10.0 GA in AL East) start their nine-game road trip on the West Coast with a three-game series against the Athletics (71-53, 8.0 GB in AL West, 1.0 GB in Wild Card) on Tuesday at 10:07 p.m.

Yankees notes

The Yankees are coming off of a tough 8-4 loss to the Indians, where LHP CC Sabathia only lasted three innings in his first start since being removed from the DL. He allowed four hits and four runs, including a three-run home run, to go along with five strikeouts and three walks. Sabathia is now 5-7 on the season with a 5.01 ERA, and hasn't registered a win since June 24. RF Aaron Judge is still trying to break out of his recent slump, going 2-for-5 from the plate with a RBI double... however, he did strikeout twice. The team does still have the best record in the MLB at 83-43, and is behind only the Astros and Dodgers for the best odds to win the World Series.

Even with the Yankees splitting their weekend series against the Indians, the Bombers still own the best record in the MLB at 83-43. 

But oddsmakers still have the Yanks underneath the Astros and Dodgers in the latest World Series odds, per Bovada.

At the start of the new week, the Astros still have the best odds to win it all at +220, while the Dodgers come in at +275. The Yankees' odds moved to +425 from +400 last week. 

The Yankees struck out 14 times and allowed three home runs in Sunday afternoon's 8-4 loss to the Indians at Yankee Stadium. >> Box Score

Five takeaways from Sunday's game...

1) LHP CC Sabathia struggled in his first game back from the right knee inflammation, an ailment that kept him on the injured list since July 28.

The Yankees (83-42, 10.5 GA in AL East) complete their four-game series with the American League Wild Card-leading Cleveland Indians (73-51, 2.5 GB in AL Central, 1.0 GA in first Wild Card) on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

Yankees notes

The Yankees held off the Indians for a 6-5 win Saturday afternoon, fueled by four home runs -- two from SS Gleyber Torres, whose 2-for-4 day at the plate featured two solo shots. In the third and fifth spots, respectively, 1B DJ LeMahieu and DH Didi Gregorious added homers to highlight the Yankees' eight-hit offensive performance.