Gregorius set to rejoin Yankees against Indians

CC Sabathia is returning to the city where his major league career began.

Sabathia (3-2, 3.61 ERA), who announced that he will retire at the end of the season, will vie for his 250th career win on Saturday as the visiting New York Yankees bid to even their series against the Cleveland Indians at one victory apiece.

"I am just glad I get a chance to pitch there again, one more time. It will be nice," the 38-year-old Sabathia said.

Sabathia was selected by Cleveland in the first round (20th overall) of the 1998 draft and made his debut at then-Jacobs Field on April 8, 2001. The left-hander collected 106 wins, 1,265 strikeouts and an American League Cy Young Award in 2007 before the Indians traded him to Milwaukee on July 7, 2008.

"What I don't think he ever got enough credit for was, you know, the athlete he was," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "And what I would marvel at, and still do, is how he can manipulate the ball. And by that I don't mean by cheating, I mean, just ... You watch him just throw, it's so natural.

"... He's been doing it for a long time. He's not the power pitcher he used to be, but he's got such a good touch and feel that, I think, that gets overlooked."

Sabathia looks to rebound after sustaining his first loss since April 30 on Sunday, despite allowing just three runs in six innings against Boston. Sabathia, however, surrendered two homers in his second straight start and fourth in his last five trips to the mound.

He owns a 4-3 mark with a 3.57 ERA in 13 career starts versus Cleveland, although Carlos Santana is batting a robust .478 (11-for-23) with a homer and six RBI against the hurler.

Santana belted a two-run homer in the sixth inning of Friday's 5-2 win over New York. The 33-year-old has hit safely in four straight games and eight of his last nine, going 12-for-34 with three homers, 10 RBI and nine runs scored in that stretch.

Francona credited rookie Oscar Mercado's speed as one of the reasons that Santana received a quality pitch to hit from starter Domingo German. Santana sent the changeup over the wall in right field for his team-leading 12th homer of the season and seventh since May 18.

"Mercado's speed helped Santana. It's something they have to respect," Francona said. "(German) was slide-stepping, and he left a pitch up to Carlos."

Cleveland's Adam Plutko (1-1, 6.35) will be summoned from Triple-A Columbus to make the start in place of fellow right-hander Jefry Rodriguez, who is sidelined with a strained shoulder.

Plutko was shelled in his last start for the Indians on May 23, permitting seven runs on 12 hits -- including four homers -- in 5 1/3 innings of a 7-2 setback versus Tampa Bay.

The 27-year-old will be making his 15th career start and first against the Yankees, who mustered just six hits Friday to lose for the fourth time in their last five games.

Aaron Hicks homered for the third time in four contests, and Didi Gregorius had a pair of singles in his first game since undergoing Tommy John surgery last October.

"Obviously, it was good to see him back," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Gregorius. "I thought he looked really good up there. He swung the bat well.

"It was good to see him out in the field. He didn't have a lot of action out there, but obviously a good first day for him to get a couple hits under his belt. He can get in the flow now. It's just great having him back."

--Field Level Media