Sabathia is the latest beat up Yankee on the DL

It has been a rough start to 2014 for the Yankees, they just can't seem to stay healthy for a very long period of time. From Ivan Nova to Michael Pineda to Mark Tiexiera and now, CC Sabathia.

Sabathia was placed on the 15-day DL by New York on Sunday with inflammation in his right knee. In a season that has become epidemic for solid starting pitchers to hit the DL after a number of rough outings, Sabatahia is the latest to hit the list.

Sabathia came into this season having lost a noticeable amount of weight and avoided questions that he is getting too old, and may have lost a step or two from the ace he once was. Well, so far in 2014, he has completely lost that ace title. With a 3-4 record and a 5.28 ERA, he looks both lost and a shadow of the pitcher he once was.

Perhaps the knee has been an issue all along. According to reports Sabathia has said as much that he kept quiet about the injury becuase he felt a responsiblity to pitch with so many teammates going down for the count. He is to not only be examined by team doctors, but the pitcher also made a request to see Dr. James Andrews. A name synonymous with bad news for pitchers, but this has nothing to do with a structural injury.

Sabathia will have to have the knee drained, with too much pain and fluid buildup in the area for him to pitch. The hope is he will be able to rest for about week before resuming baseball activities and will be back in the rotation soon after that. 

In the meantime New York will have to dig deep into their bullpen and farm system to find a substitute. Candidates range from Alfredo Aceves, whom Joe Girardi wants in the pen, to Adam Warren, and minor leaguer Chase Whitley. However the Yankees decision making in this process is so scattered right now, they haven't named a starter for Thursday at Citi Field.