CC Sabathia vs. the Twins

This is why the Yankees paid all that money to CC Sabathia in the off-season: Game 1 of the playoffs. We know he has struggled in the playoffs in his career, but let's see how the big lefty has done against the Twins in his career:



Now let's take a look at how he's done vs. the current Twins players (via Baseball-Reference):

                   PA  AB  H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG   **OPS**   SH  SF IBB HBP GDP
+-----------------+---+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+---------+---+---+---+---+---
Alexi Casilla      13  13   9  2  0  0   1   0   1  .692  .692  .846   1.538     0   0   0   0   0
Mike Redmond       32  26  13  2  0  0   6   4   2  .500  .563  .577   1.140     0   1   1   1   0
Denard Span         3   3   1  0  0  0   0   0   0  .333  .333  .333    .666     0   0   0   0   0
Justin Huber       11  11   3  1  0  0   1   0   5  .273  .273  .364    .637     0   0   0   0   0
Michael Cuddyer    56  52  11  3  0  1   6   3  11  .212  .268  .327    .595     0   0   0   1   1
Justin Morneau     46  39   6  2  0  1   3   4   7  .154  .261  .282    .543     0   1   0   2   1
Joe Mauer          25  23   5  1  0  0   2   2   9  .217  .280  .261    .541     0   0   0   0   0
Brendan Harris     15  15   3  2  0  0   0   0   2  .200  .200  .333    .533     0   0   0   0   0
Delmon Young       15  15   3  1  0  0   0   0   3  .200  .200  .267    .467     0   0   0   0   1
Nick Punto         39  36   6  1  0  0   2   2   6  .167  .211  .194    .405     1   0   0   0   1
Orlando Cabrera    36  33   5  1  0  0   3   2   7  .152  .200  .182    .382     1   0   0   0   1
Joe Crede          44  41   6  1  0  0   1   3  10  .146  .205  .171    .376     0   0   0   0   0
Carlos Gomez        6   6   1  0  0  0   0   0   0  .167  .167  .167    .334     0   0   0   0   0
Jason Kubel         2   2   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000    .000     0   0   0   0   1
+-----------------+---+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+---------+---+---+---+---+---
Total             343 315  72 17  0  2  25  20  64  .229  .282  .302    .584     2   2   1   4   6

Alexi Casilla and Mike Redmond are the two players with success against CC in their careers. Michael Cuddyer and Justin Morneau are the only two players who have gone deep off of Sabathia (and Morneau is not playing). Cuddyer hit his home run off of Sabathia in their only matchup this year. It was also the only run that CC gave up to the Twins on July 7th (the same game that CC's opponent tonight, Brian Duensing, pitched in). Let's take a look at CC Sabathia's start that day:



And now a look at how CC pitched in the Bronx this season:



River Ave Blues breaks down that Game 1 matchup:

A pair of lefties will duel in Game 1, but their handedness may be their only similarity. CC is an enormous veteran, while Duensing is a 5′11″ rookie. CC averages 94 with his fastball and slows that down with a slider and change. Duensing averages around 91 with the fastball and mixes in a slider (which is actually faster on average than CC’s), change, and occasionally a curve.

Should be interesting tonight. Mark Feinsand sees CC overcoming his playoff problems:

Sabathia’s playoff history is shaky, but I think he’s ready to turn that around. Unlike last year, when he pitched his final three starts in the regular season and his NLDS start on three days rest, Sabathia has gotten extra rest in each of his last four turns, leaving him rested and ready.

Much more game notes to come as the day rolls on and we get closer to postseason baseball returning to the Bronx!