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CC Sabathia struggles again in fight for Yankees rotation

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CC Sabathia could be in danger of not making the starting rotation if he continues to struggle.Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports

CC Sabathia could be in danger of not making the starting rotation if he continues to struggle.

TAMPA – For the first time in his career, CC Sabathia is pitching for a job.

What once seemed like a formality has now turned into a full-blown competition. The Yankees have six starters for five rotation spots, though Masahiro Tanaka, Luis Severino, Michael Pineda and Nathan Eovaldi appear to have spots all sewn up as long as they stay healthy between now and Opening Day.

That leaves Sabathia and Ivan Nova for the No. 5 spot, one most had assumed would go to the former Cy Young winner regardless of what happened this spring.

But Sabathia suffered his second straight subpar outing in a row Friday night, giving up seven runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks, striking out one against the Orioles. Mark Trumbo’s three-run home run in the first was the big blow against the southpaw.

Sabathia’s bad start came only five days after the Phillies knocked him around for three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk over just 1.2 innings.

“We’re trying to take the five best starters,” manager Joe Girardi said before the game. “We saw a really good month last year and we want to see that continue. We know that there’s six pegs and only five holes. He’s competing. These are important starts.

“He’s got to go out and do what he’s capable of doing, that’s the bottom line.”

Since he broke into the league in 2001, Sabathia’s place in the rotation has been secure each spring. Even as he struggled through injury issues the past couple years, his place among the starting five was never in doubt.

“I’m sure it’s really different because he’s been the guy that’s usually shouldered the biggest responsibility of any team he’s been on,” Girardi said. “He was expected to be the ace, the first game of the playoffs, he’s the guy going on the mound. So I’m sure this is different for him. It’s definitely different for him.”

But Nova has allowed only two runs over nine innings this spring, and although his track record isn’t as lengthy as Sabathia’s, it’s not like Nova is a neophyte trying to make his first Opening Day roster, either.

“It’s an open competition,” general manager Brian Cashman said “Everybody knows that, so we’ll see where it takes us.”

Unlike recent years, when the battle for the final rotation spot typically included a swing-man type – think Adam Warren, for instance – this year’s battle features two starters that have never worked out of the bullpen for any consistent period of time.

There’s no easy out for Girardi, who will be sending an experienced starter into a foreign role no matter which one he chooses.

“We’ll worry about those things when we cross them,” Girardi said. “When you look at our rotation you don’t really have anyone who is experienced in the bullpen. We just want to take the 12 best pitchers and whatever we have to do, we’ll figure it out.”

NOTES: According to a source, the Yankees offered Ruben Tejada a minor-league contract with an invitation to big-league camp, but the former Mets infielder rejected it. The source said Tejada is weighing at least one major-league offer, though it’s unclear which team. … Aaron Hicks returned to the lineup Friday after missing Thursday’s game with a sty in his eye. … Brian McCann (bruised left knee) had no issues after playing Thursday and was back in the lineup Friday. … Brett Gardner was in the lineup Friday for the second time this spring. … LHP Evan Rutckyj, a Rule 5 draft pick by the Braves in December, was returned to the Yankees on Friday. The Yankees, who had to pay back only $25,000 of the $50,000 claiming price the Braves paid, sent Rutckyj to minor-league camp.

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