NEW YORK -- The uncertainty concerning CC Sabathia's troublesome right knee was part of the reason why most observers believed the Yankees would add at least one starting pitcher, but the veteran left-hander believes that his team will be fine after passing on opportunities to acquire outside help before the Trade Deadline.
"I'm good with that," Sabathia said. "I think we definitely have the talent and the arms to get it done. There was a big fuss because we had a bad week at the wrong time, but I definitely think we have the guys to get it done."
Sabathia, who is currently on the 10-day injured list after receiving platelet-rich plasma and synthetic lubricant injections in his right knee, said that welcoming pitchers Dellin Betances and Luis Severino back to the active roster would be like making two major midsummer pickups.
"I think people forget how good those two guys are just because we haven't seen them this year," Sabathia said. "I don't think there's anything to add on the offensive side. We're there. I think we've got the team to win the division, and ultimately win the World Series."
Having announced that this will be his final Major League season, the 39-year-old Sabathia is 5-6 with a 4.78 ERA in 17 starts. He said that his knee pain was at a "10" after his start last Saturday at Fenway Park, though it typically has been at an "eight" for the past several years.
Sabathia said that he should be able to return shortly after he resumes playing catch, which could happen in a few days.
“He’s a warrior," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "He goes out there and pitches through stuff that a lot of guys wouldn’t be able to handle. It’s something that we obviously monitor closely and we know we have to stay on top of. At this point in his career, there are times in the season where he does need the time out just because the knee is not good."
On the mend
Luke Voit said that he feels optimistic about his chances of avoiding surgery as the Yankees first baseman resumes activities after he was diagnosed with a sports hernia. Voit has been on the stationary bike and is performing core exercises.
Voit said that he should know in about a week if surgery will be necessary, a procedure that carries an estimated six-week recovery period.
"I trust what these guys are saying," Voit said. "If after a week I don’t feel like I should [continue rehab], I still have a chance to come back for a playoff run. It’s big for me. At the end of the day, I wanted to play. I tried to play through it, and after a while, I couldn’t take it anymore. That’s when you guys saw me come out of the game [on July 30]."
Voit said that if he has surgery, it is uncertain if he would be able to return in time for the postseason. His hope is that the procedure can be delayed until the offseason.
"I kept getting sore in areas I usually wasn’t," Voit said. "I felt like I couldn’t get loose and everything was hurting. I felt like it was affecting my play and not giving my best. It’s frustrating."
Injury report
Didi Gregorius (strained muscle in left hand) was expected to swing the bat and take ground balls on Saturday, and Boone said that the Yankees now expect Gregorius to avoid the injured list. Gregorius rolled over his glove hand while fielding a ground ball on Wednesday against the D-backs.
Bombers bits
Right-hander Chance Adams was summoned from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to serve as the Yankees' 26th man for Saturday's doubleheader.
This date in Yankees history
Aug. 3, 1959: Yogi Berra connected for his first and only All-Star Game home run, helping the American League to a 5-3 victory at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. Berra's two-run blast came in the third inning off the Dodgers' Don Drysdale.