While listing the Top 25 pending free agents and guessing where they might sign, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports had the Mets connected to just two players -- 3B Todd Frazier, who he ranked 18th, and LHP CC Sabathia, who he ranked 19th.

Part of Heyman's predictions for where the top free agents might end up were sourced, where others appeared to be guesses (informed or otherwise).

Heyman did not have the Mets as potential landing spots for starting pitchers Jake Arrieta, Yu Darvish, Alex Cobb, or Lance Lynn, or relievers Wade Davis or Greg Holland.

Todd Frazier's three-run home run capped the Yankees' five-run fourth inning as New York beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 on Monday in a game played at Citi Field due to Hurricane Irma. >> Box score

After Matt Holliday reached on Trevor Plouffe's error that allowed Gary Sanchez to score and Jacoby Ellsbury reached on catcher's interference, Frazier hit Jake Odorizzi's 3-2 offering over the left-field fence to give the Yankees a four-run lead.

CC Sabathia didn't make it past the fifth inning, but David Robertson struck out four batters in 2 2/3 scoreless innings as the Yankees won for the seventh time in their last nine games.

Due to Hurricane Irma, the New York Yankees (77-65) will begin their three-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays (71-73) at Citi Field on Monday at 7:10 p.m. ET

The Yankees play the second game of a four-game set with the Red Sox on Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees LHP CC Sabathia called out Eduardo Nunez and the Boston Red Sox after Thursday's game for trying to bunt on him for the second straight matchup.

Sabathia called the Red Sox "weak" and then challenged the division rivals by saying, "If they've got something to say, we can meet in center field," according to the New York Daily News' John Harper.

With one out in the first inning, Nunez dropped down a bunt, which forced Sabathia off the mound. He rushed his throw, which pulled Greg Bird off first base for an error and allowing Nunez to reach.

"It's just kind of weak to me,'' Sabathia said after the Yankees' 6-2 win. "It shows me what they've got over there."

CC Sabathia tossed six innings of one-run ball and Gary Sancez and Greg Bird homered as the Yankees beat the Red Sox 6-2 in the series opener on Thursday at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score

The Yankees pulled within four and a half games of the Red Sox in the AL East and remain in control of the top wild card spot in the American League. Sabathia, who earned his 11th win, has now defeated the Red Sox four times this season. He allowed just one run on four hits in six innings.

David Robertson pitched two scoreless innings, while Dellin Betances pitched the ninth and allowed a run.

The Yankees open a four-game series with the Red Sox on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees were baseball's early surprise this season, jumping out to a four-game lead in the A.L. East after 61 games. Visions of grandeur filled the heads of Yankees fans, the club's front office, and ownership. Unfortunately for the Yankees, the team many expected to see at the outset of the season arrived and has taken a firm grip over its makeup.

The notion that the Yankees could win the division has seemingly gone by the wayside and now they are losing grip on a playoff spot. Since June 13 (when the Yankees entered the day 38-23), they have gone 32-39 and now own a slim one-game lead for the top wild card spot and are just two games ahead in the second wild card position.

Here is a sampling of statistics that demonstrate why the Yankees have spiraled for an extended period...

 Yankees starter LHP CC Sabathia went from considering retirement to pitching a gem in a must-win against the Red Sox Saturday night.

Sabathia was activated off the 10-day DL to start against Red Sox ace LHP Chris Sale. After experiencing severe pain in his right knee in his last start, the 37-year-old thought that his career might be over. 

"I would say no," Sabathia told MLB.com's Bryan Hoch about if he expected to be pitching last night. "But everything has worked out and hopefully I can just continue going out there and keep helping the team."

The Yankees optioned LHP Jordan Montgomery to Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes/Barre on Saturday and activated LHP CC Sabathia from the 10-day disabled list.

Manager Joe Girardi said Montgomery was sent down to prevent him from pitching too many innings, reports Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. The young left-hander will have a shorter start when he takes the hill for Scranton-Wilkes-Barre.

Montgomery is 7-6 with a 4.00 ERA in 23 starts for the Yankees this season. 

Doctors have told Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia that they can't promise the pain in his knee will not resurface in the future, per NJ.com's Brendan Kuty. 

Sabathia also noted that he may need a knee replacement once he decides to hang up the cleats.

He threw a 25-pitch bullpen session at Citi Field on Wednesday and told reporters that he feels ready to pitch against the Red Sox this Saturday. 

The New York Yankees placed LHP CC Sabathia on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 9 due to right knee inflammation and recalled LHP Jordan Montgomery from the minors to take his spot in the rotation.

New York also activated first baseman Tyler Austin from the disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Sabathia left Tuesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays after the third inning when he said he injured his knee and couldn't continue to pitch. An MRI revealed earlier this week that Sabathia did not suffer any new damage to his right knee, on which he had surgery last October.

Montgomery, a 24-year-old rookie who was optioned to the minors to make room for Sonny Gray and Jaime Garcia, will start Sunday night against the Red Sox in place of Sabathia, who is 9-5 with a 4.05 ERA in 19 starts this year.

CC Sabathia is "probably doubtful" for his next start, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said on WFAN on Thursday.

"We want to sit down and see him tomorrow face to face before we really make any decisions (about his next start)," Girardi said while adding that Jordan Montgomery would likely start in his place if he is unable to pitch.

The Yankees (59-51) begin a four-game set on the road with the Toronto Blue Jays (52-59) on Tuesday at Rogers Centre at 7:07 p.m. 

The Yankees (57-47) play the second game of a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers (47-57) on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters New York would not turn to a six-man rotation after the team traded for starting pitchers Sonny Gray and Jaime Garcia but added he is unsure which pitcher would lose his spot in the rotation.

New York acquired Gray in a trade with the Oakland Athletics on Monday and traded two low-level prospects to the Minnesota Twins on Sunday for the left-hander Garcia. 

"Ownership and the front office have given us the opportunity to do something special here," Girardi said, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. "Now we have to go out and do it."

Girardi said Gray, who went 6-5 with a 3.43 ERA in 16 starts with Oakland this season, would likely make his Yankees debut toward the beginning of New York's seven-game road trip, which begins with a four-game series against the Cleveland Indians on Thursday.

The Yankees acquired RHP Sonny Gray from the Athletics in exchange for minor league INF Jorge Mateo, OF Dustin Fowler and RHP James Kaprielian, the teams announced Monday afternoon.

While Yankees GM Brian Cashman said outfielder Clint Frazier and infielder Gleyber Torres were among New York's untouchable prospects, Athletics GM Billy Beane instead asked for a package revolving around outfielder Estevan Florial, who played in this year's Futures Game, or Mateo, WFAN's Sweeny Murti reports.

Oakland preferred Florial to Mateo, however the Yankees added Kaprielian, their first-round pick from 2015, to the deal as a concession, according to FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman. The Yankees will also receive $1.5 million in international signing bonus pool money.

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees are in heavy pursuit of starting pitching help - currently the weakest link on the roster - with Athletics right-hander Sonny Gray at the top of their wish list. The issues are the prospect cost and reports that there are as many as six other teams scouting the 27-year-old.

They could land the hurler (or a fallback option), and still have some significant problems to deal with as they try to maintain grip on a playoff spot...

Aaron Judge hit his 31st home run and CC Sabathia allowed one run over five innings in the Yankees' 5-1 win against the Mariners on Friday night in Seattle. >> Box Score

After allowing a first-inning run, Sabathia settled in to quiet the Mariners' offense for the remainder of his outing to earn his ninth win of the year. 

Judge hit a blast to left field in the fifth inning to drive in Brett Gardner and Gary Sanchez. He would finish with four RBIs on the night. 

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

Yankees GM Brian Cashman stated the club would be "cautious buyers" during the trade deadline period. If a seven-player deal -- bringing in three major leaguers for one of the game's top prospects -- is cautious, this could be an interesting 13 days ahead.

The Yankees clearly filled two of their biggest holes by adding former organization relievers David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle to a tired and inconsistent bullpen, while adding Todd Frazier should stabilize the revolving door at first base for the remainder of the season.

C.C. Sabathia pitched six scoreless innings, Didi Gregorius hit a homer and scored a run, and the Yankees shut out the Red Sox, 3-0, in the first game of a day/night doubleheader on Sunday at Fenway Park. >> Box score

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV:

The Yankees return from the All-Star break with seemingly as many questions as they had when the season began. The backbone to current queries leads back to the same theme: Will the Yankees sacrifice their recent roster construction methodology in an effort to make a run at the postseason? Each facet could use reinforcements, but which ones the club will seek to fill are undetermined.

In a panel run by the New York Post, Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia said he would not mind Major League Baseball using a pitch clock during games. 

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

The Yankees are losing their grip on a postseason berth, suggesting any moves this trading period will diverge from a limited, yet costly, starting pitching market. Rentals are not a good idea and the controllable pitchers might require the Yankees to relinquish more from the farm system than they would desire.

The only thing we can say with some certainty is that Jordan Montgomery and Luis Severino will have slots available to them in the Yankees' rotation in 2018. Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia are free agents at the end of the season, while Masahiro Tanaka can opt out of his deal as well.

The Blue Jays took advantage of one poor inning by CC Sabathia in his return from the disabled list to score four runs in a 4-1 victory over New York on Tuesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. >> Box score

Sabathia (7-3, 3.81), who had been out since June 13 with a hamstring issue, retired the first eight batters he faced. But after getting the first two outs in the third, he gave up four runs, allowing three hits and three walks with a wild pitch.

Kendry Morales' two-run single wrapped up the scoring after Russell Martin's RBI single started it. Sabathia walked Justin Smoak with the bases loaded for the second run of the inning.

The New York Yankees are likely to activate RHP Adam Warren and LHP CC Sabathia off the disabled list for Tuesday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays, according to the New York Daily News' Mike Mazzeo.

Warren, who was placed on the disabled list on June 16 due to shoulder inflammation, said he felt good after he threw a simulated game on Sunday. The 29-year-old reliever has a 2.23 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings this season.

Sabathia, meanwhile, told reporters he felt fine after a three-inning simulated game on Thursday and a bullpen session on Saturday.

Out since June 13 due to a hamstring injury, Sabathia is 7-2 with a 3.46 ERA in 13 starts this season. Manager Joe Girardi told Mazzeo "our plan right now" is for Sabathia to start Tuesday.

Yankees LHP CC Sabathia will throw a simulated game on Thursday, manager Joe Girardi told reporters Wednesday.

The left-hander is expected to miss at least six weeks due to his Grade 2 hamstring strain, GM Brian Cashman said June 19, according to Christian Red of the NY Daily News.

The 36-year-old Sabathia has a 3.46 ERA (4.11 FIP) and 1.25 WHIP with 24 walks and 62 strikeouts in 75 1/3 innings (13 stats) this season.

White Sox LHP Jose Quintana, who could be traded before the Aug. 1 non-waiver deadline, starts tonight against the Yankees in Chicago.

A potential impediment to any interested team, though, is that Quintana (who doesn't have a no-trade clause) isn't enamored with being traded in order to join a team in a pennant race, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

The Yankees were reportedly interested in trading for Quintana during the offseason. He is under contract through the 2018 season, with team options for $10.5 million in 2019 and 2020. 

CC Sabathia departed in the fifth inning with a strained left hamstring and the Angels edged the Yankees, 3-2, in 11 innings on Tuesday night in Anaheim.

The Yankees (38-23) play Game 2 of a three-game series against the Angels (33-34) at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Monday at 10:07 p.m.

Yankees starter CC Sabathia continues to shine as he picked up his fifth straight win last night over the Red Sox.

The lefty didn't let up a run, allowing only three hits while striking out five and walking none. He now leads the Yankees in wins, and owns a 1.11 ERA over his streak.

While RHP Masahiro Tanaka struggles, Sabathia has been a bright spot in the rotation. He could have gone for the complete-game shutout last night, but given his age and value to the Yankees at this point in the season, manager Joe Girardi knows he must be cautious. 

"There's always temptation (to leave him in there), but as a manager and a pitching coach, you're weighing the risk and reward there," Girardi said following the win. "We have a long way to go. He's had some minor cleanups the last few years on his knee. He's not 25. He's not even 30 anymore. We just thought it was best to get him out."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi believes his team's home stand this week is "big," according to Brendan Kuty of NJ.com.

The Red Sox are traveling to Yankee Stadium for the first time this season to play a three-game set. With another AL East opponent in the Orioles coming to town after this series, Girardi realizes how crucial the next few games are for his ballclub.

"I think it's big. I think it's big home stand," Girardi said. "We're playing Boston and Baltimore. You don't want to get ahead too far but these are really important games. We're in a stretch of 13 in our division in a row. We get to go home now. We've got to play better." 

Chris Carelli, SNY.TV Facebook | Twitter | About Me | Archives

The New York Yankees (30-20) begin a four-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays (26-27) on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. at the Rogers Centre. 

The Yankees (27-18) will try to bounce back in the second game of three-game series with the Athletics (22-25) on Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. 

Brett Gardner hit a three-run home run, CC Sabathia limited the Rays to two runs in five innings, and the Yankees' bullpen tossed four scoreless innings as New York avoided a three-game sweep in Tampa. >> Click here for the full box score

CC Sabathia struck out six batters and walked one in a 95-pitch effort. After allowing a run in the first inning, Sabathia threw three scoreless innings before giving up a solo shot in the fifth. 

Didi Gregorius went 4-for-4 with an RBI, raising his batting average to .322 on the season. Gardner had two hits and Jacoby Ellsbury added a double.

Chris Carelli, SNY.tv

Alex Rodriguez had a surprising comeback season for the Yankees in 2015. In 2016, he was basically forced into retirement with a season-plus left on his contract. All of the sudden, it looks like a similar script might be unfolding for CC Sabathia.

Sabathia hurled 179 2/3 innings of 3.91 ERA ball in 2016, the first season in which he finished with an ERA below 4.70 since 2012. That's a long time to be mostly ineffective and then turn things around. Sabathia battled knee injuries and himself over those three years in which he compiled a combined 4.81 ERA in 424 1/3 innings. In 2016, the knee was steadied by a brace he used at the tail end of the 2015 season and came to grips with a transition he obviously had not fully accepted until last season.

Sabathia got off to a fine start this season, recording a 1.47 ERA in 18 1/3 innings across his first three starts. It appeared that he picked up right where he left off last year. The Yankees had a work horse in the stable. Unfortunately, Sabathia has been abysmal since. In Sabathia's last four starts (20 2/3 innings), he owns a 9.58 ERA and opposing batters are slashing .337/.416/.551 against him.

CC Sabathia allowed five runs in six innings as the New York Yankees' six-game winning streak was snapped with a 5-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday at Great American Ball Park. >> Box score

After the Yankees took a 2-0 lead on solo home runs by Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius, Sabathia (2-2) gave up five runs in the bottom of the second inning.

He gave up two-run singles to Billy Hamilton and Joey Votto that gave the Reds a 4-2 lead, and Adam Duvall followed with an RBI single that made it 5-2.

While Sabathia settled down by retiring 13 of the last 15 batters he faced, the deficit was too much for the Yankees to overcome against Reds starter Tim Adleman (2-1), who gave up three runs and five hits in five innings, or the Cincinnati bullpen.

The New York Yankees look to extend their winning streak to seven games when they face the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. ET at Great American Ball Park.

Chris Carelli, SNY.tv

We weren't supposed to be speculating on the Yankees adding players at the trade deadline this season, but a 21-9 record after 30 games wasn't expected either. The magnitude of the Yankees' success has begun to percolate questions about whether the Yankees will enter the trade market to add a starting pitcher.

The Yankees lead the American League in a multitude of offensive categories and their bullpen has been spectacular. The rotation has pitched well enough for the most part, but it is the one area which could been seen as a weak link.

Masahiro Tanaka's numbers are somewhat skewed by his horrendous first start of the season, as he's generated a 3.10 ERA in six starts since. CC Sabathia got off to a fine start, reminiscent of his comeback 2016 season, but he's been dreadful (10.43 ERA) in his last three starts. Michael Pineda and Luis Severino have pitched well overall with some dominant performances mixed in with mediocre ones. Finally, Jordan Montgomery has been quite solid as the fifth starter, turning in better efforts each time out.

Yankees LHP CC Sabathia was hit hard on Wednesday night for the second-straight start, allowing six runs on seven hits while walking four and striking out five in four innings against the Blue Jays.

He allowed seven runs on nine hits while walking two and striking out six in 5 2/3 innings against the Orioles during his prior start.

Sabathia knows what he has to do to improve his results.

The New York Yankees go for the series win as they face the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. EST at Yankee Stadium.

BOSTON (AP) -- The Latest on Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones being taunted with racial slurs at Fenway Park (all times local):

6:10 p.m.

Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia says black baseball players know to expect racial taunts when playing in Boston.

''We know. There's 62 of us and we all know: When you go to Boston, expect it,''

Chris Carelli, SNY.tv

The New York Yankees hoped to be competitive and not fall behind in the season's opening month as they did in 2016. A rough start on the road was erased by an eight-game winning streak and the Yanks won five of their last six series, propelling them into a surprising position in the standings.

Where the Yankees stand

Record: 15-8, T-1st AL East, Home: 10-2, Road: 5-6

The Yankees dropped their 16th game of 2017 and fell to 10-6. Starting pitcher, CC Sabathia gave up two home runs and the team never recovered. 

In the bottom of the first, the Pirates opened the scoring in PNC Park after a Jordy Mercer homerun. Brett Gardner walked in the third and would eventually notch New York's first run of the night. 

The Yankees look to improve their 10-5 record against a Pittsburgh team that has either fallen to a sweep or escaped with one in every series thus far of 2017.

Chris Carelli, SNY.tv

The Yankees were supposed to be working the 2017 season without a strong collection of starting pitching. However, during the Yankees' current eight-game winning streak, the club's starters have silenced the detractors with a 6-0 record, 2.76 ERA and a 9.2 K/9 rate. How long can the run last?

Of the five starters, the pitcher expected to provide sterling efforts, Masahiro Tanaka currently owns the worst ERA. However, in his last start, Tanaka looked more like the pitcher who contended for the Cy Young Award last season. Tanaka had a superb spring training, but struggled in his first two starts (10 ER in 7 2/3 IP).

I don't worry about Tanaka. Once he hits a groove, he can rattle off solid start after solid start. Tanaka is the most complete pitcher of the crew and I have the plenty of faith he can put his rough start behind him.

CCC Sabathia allowed one run and three hits in 7 1/3 innings and the Yankees took advantage of sloppy Cardinals defense in a 3-2 victory Saturday at Yankee Stadium. The Yanks have won six in a row. >>Click here for a full box score.

Jordan Montgomery will start for the Yankees on Wednesday afternoon against the Rays, it was announced Monday.

Luis Severino will pitch Thursday, with CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka having their next starts pushed back a day.

To make room for Montgomery on the roster, the Yankees optioned Chasen Shreve to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The Yankees will try to avoid a sweep in the final game of a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m.

Follow the game live on SNY.TV.

Who's Pitching for the Yankees: CC Sabathia (9-12, 3.91 ERA in 2016), who earned the win in his first start on April 4 when he pitched five shutout innings against the Rays. 

Who's Pitching for the Orioles: LHP Wade Miley (9-13, 5.37 ERA in 2016), who is making his 2017 regular season debut after starting the season on the disabled list.