Bombers bits

• CC Sabathia's next start is likely to come on Thursday against the Pirates in Bradenton, Fla., representing his final tuneup before taking the ball on Opening Day April 1 in Houston. Girardi said that Sabathia's workload would be scaled back in that start; he threw 89 pitches over seven innings on Friday.

• Ivan Nova's next outing will come in a Minor League game on Monday at the club's complex in Tampa, Fla.

• Kelly Johnson will get another crack at playing first base on Saturday against the Twins in Fort Myers, Fla. While Johnson is in line to serve as the Yankees' Opening Day third baseman, the Yankees also want to prepare him for backing up Mark Teixeira on the other side of the diamond.