This is the 5th anniversary of doing game previews for the first month of the season, and then petering out, so let's enjoy it while it lasts.
New York Yankees (0-0) @ Houston Astros (0-0)
2013 series record vs. NYY: 1-5. The Astros won the opening game of the season series in New York, and dropped the next five, including the final three games of the season.
Opposing Pitcher: CC Sabathia
*Had scholarship offer to play football for UCLA.
*20th overall pick by the Indians in 1998.
*Does not like periods between the initials of his first and middle name.
*Sabathia threw 211IP last season for the Yankees, continuing a seven-year stretch of 200+ IP.
*From 2007-13, Sabathia threw 1610IP, most in MLB in that span, and 35.1IP more than Justin Verlander.
*In 2013, he had a 4.10 FIP and a 3.76 xFIP to off-set his 4.78 ERA, though he had a 7.46 K/9 - lowest since 2005 - and a career-high 1.19 HR/9.
*Sabathia lost 40 pounds over the 2013 offseason.
*Sabathia told the New York Daily News that, while he throws with his left hand, he's actually right-handed. (File under: WUT)
*Sabathia has only faced three current Astros: Chris Carter (.533 OPS), Jesus Guzman (1.167 OPS), and Dexter Fowler (.000 OPS) who are a combined 2x9.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
