Yankees Injury Update: Sabathia to the DL; Teixeira could be back by Friday

Here are the latest updates on all the Yankee injuries:

CC Sabathia

After starting yesterday's game against the Indians, Sabathia was pulled from the game in the third inning with knee pain. He has struggled with a degenerative knee issue since last season, when he spent the majority of the season on the disabled list. Sabathia ended up having knee surgery last year, and has had his knee drained multiple times this season, but there's only so much that can be done for degenerative damage. The Yankees have now placed him on the 15-day disabled list, but Joe Girardi acknowledged the possibility that Sabathia could be done for the season. He had been pitching much better recently and his velocity was up, reportedly because he's been putting everything he had into his last couple of starts. On the plus side, the injury lines up with Michael Pineda's to return to the team. The Yankees had intended to go to a six-man rotation with Pineda coming off the disabled list, but it's less likely to happen now. An MRI didn't reveal any new damage, so the plan is for Sabathia to receive treatment and rest for the time being.

Mark Teixeira

Teixeira has been slowly progressing since getting drilled in the leg last Monday. He was diagnosed with a bone bruise which prevented him from walking for a few days. Tex took batting practice and fielding drills yesterday, and said that he would be available to pinch-hit in last night's game. However, he's still unable to run normally, so he could be a liability on the field and at the plate. He's hoping that he'll be able to run at full speed by Friday's game. The team decided not to put him on the disabled list when the injury originally occurred, but they'll have to consider it if he isn't able to play later in the week.

Bryan Mitchell

The Yankees will likely need to use a spot starter every now and then during the month of September, and they could turn to Mitchell. Mitchell has been on the 7-day disabled list with a concussion since he was smacked in the face by an Eduardo Nunez line drive last week. He was fortunate to only suffer a broken nose, and a black eye, but this was the second concussion Mitchell has suffered in the span of a month. In July, he was working out with an exercise band when someone opened the door it was attached to and sent him flying backwards. Mitchell threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Sunday without any setbacks and he's expected to make a rehab start or throw a sim game either today or tomorrow. Girardi thinks he'll rejoin the bullpen as long relief help.

Dustin Ackley

The Yankees made exactly one trade before the non-waiver deadline ended July 31st, and that was to bring Ackley over from the Mariners. Unfortunately, he was placed on the disabled list almost immediately with a lumbar strain. The team feared that he might need season-ending surgery, but Ackley has recently stated that he thinks the rehab process is going well and that he doesn't believe he will need surgery. He's progressed to throwing and hitting, and could rejoin the team after the roster expands in September.