April 20, 2019 NEW YORK -- CC Sabathia says that he returned for one final big league season so he could appear in another World Series, not to chase round numbers. Yet as the veteran left-hander draws nearer to the 3,000-strikeout mark, the historic milestone has been occupying his thoughts with growing intensity. During the third inning on Friday evening, Sabathia said that he stalked around the mound at Yankee Stadium, peering at his growing K total on the scoreboard. Then it was back to business, as Sabathia’s five solid innings generated five strikeouts and career victory No. 247, helping the Yankees to a 6-2 victory over the Royals. With 2,994 strikeouts, Sabathia’s next start could see him become the 17th pitcher to reach the 3,000 plateau. He trails John Smoltz (3,084) by 90 strikeouts, and Sabathia's current figure ranks fifth in American League history (first among left-handers). • For the first time ever, No. 0 faces No. 0 Though the 38-year-old Sabathia has never been one to study the back of his baseball card, he acknowledged that the strikeout tally began to fill his mind during Spring Training. Five years down the line, manager Aaron Boone believes that the rest of the sport will be offering Sabathia's long and meritorious career a deserved place in the sun. Borrowed from Andy Pettitte's tool kit, that pitch proved to be largely unreliable on Friday, sailing up and away from its intended location. Huddling with catcher Kyle Higashioka, Sabathia still served as the stopper, leading the Yanks back from a disappointing loss in Thursday's series opener. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF-Igo9sogo

... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp9Rb4zyGIw