Why the Yankees are passing on Justus Sheffield’s shot … again

by Felix Pantaleón

The Yankees won’t give top pitching prospect Justus Sheffield his first big-league chance just yet, though there’s an opportunity.

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NEW YORK — Justus Sheffield is going to have to wait again.

The Yankees are going with Luis Cessa rather than their top pitching prospect to fill CC Sabathia‘s rotation spot.

Sabathia went on the 10-day disabled list with right knee inflammation Monday. The Yankees are dropping Cessa into the rotation to start Wednesday vs. the Rays and pushing everybody else back a day.

Manager Aaron Boone was asked why not give the chance to Sheffield, their top pitching prospect and one of the game’s best, or Chance Adams, a former top prospect who impressed in his major-league debut vs. the Red Sox last week.

“We think (Cessa) probably just a little more experienced at this point,” Boone said. “Has had success in different roles. Coming up in a spot start situation, we’ve seen him make some good starts for us so far this year. The stuff’s been good. Obviously, the fastball he can ride up there, that slider, which is a really good pitch for him, we think he’s the best guy to slot in kind of on the fly like this, a guy who’s been used to this up and down role a little bit the last couple of years.”

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Sheffield, a 22-year-old lefty, has had an excellent season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 5-3 with a 2.16 ERA in 15 games (14 starts).

Sheffield hasn’t given up more than one run in any of his last seven starts.