Mike Mazzeo, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Pregame notes: No timetable for CC

NEW YORK -- New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he would “kinda shocked” if left-hander CC Sabathia returned from the disabled list after just 15 days.

Sabathia, who has a “degenerative change” in right knee, was placed on the 15-day DL on Monday. He received a cortisone shot and a stem cell shot to help the pain.

“There’s not a lot of history on this, but because they want the procedure obviously to be as successful as possible, he is on crutches,” Girardi said before Saturday afternoon’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Yankee Stadium. “It’s not because the knee is sore, it’s because they don’t want any weight on it, so my guess its we’ll evaluate him Monday or Tuesday and see where he’s at, and then we’ll go from there.”

Girardi said he expects Sabathia to lose the crutches on Monday. He will not begin throwing a bullpen immediately afterward, and there is no definitive timetable for his return.

Girardi said Sabathia flew home Saturday, but is expected to return to the ballpark Sunday.

Ellsbury scratched: Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was scratched from Saturday’s lineup due to “flu-like symptoms,” the team announced. Brett Gardner shifted over to center, while Zoilo Almonte will make the start in left and bat ninth.

Assorted notes: Right-hander Michael Pineda (back) will throw a 25-pitch bullpen session Sunday. Pineda has been on the DL since May 6. ... Right-hander Hiroki Kuroda will start Game 1 of Sunday’s single-admission doubleheader against the Pirates, while southpaw Vidal Nuno will start Game 2. Girardi hasn’t talked to shortstop Derek Jeter yet, but the expectation is he’ll play in one of the games and sit the other. ... Reliever Shawn Kelley (back), currently on the DL, will play catch Monday. ... Right fielder Carlos Beltran (elbow), also currently on the DL, is feeling better, Girardi said. ... Outfielder Ichiro Suzuki (back) was expected to go through pregame routines Saturday. Girardi said Suzuki was not available on Thursday for pinch-running or late-game defensive purposes. Girardi, however, said that if all goes well, he’d be able to use Suzuki on Saturday and then play him Sunday. ... Rookie Chase Whitley is still in the rotation, at least as of now, Girardi said.

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