CC Sabathia coming back, so Joba Chamberlain being sent down?

CHICAGO -- With CC Sabathia all but certain to come off the disabled list Friday, the Yankees will have to make a roster move.

And there are strong indications pointing to Joba Chamberlain being sent to the minors to work out the command issues that have plagued him since he returned from the DL July 31.

General manager Brian Cashman, though he wouldn't engage in speculation on what the roster move will be, spoke generally about what he's seen from Chamberlain.

"Obviously his arm strength is there, the command is not," Cashman said yesterday afternoon by phone. "First year back after Tommy John, guys typically have their stuff but not their command. He'll continue to get a chance to pitch and work through it."

Since his return Chamberlain, away 14 months recovering from Tommy John surgery and then an ankle injury sustained on a trampoline, has allowed seven runs and 15 hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Joe Girardi, pressed after Monday's game about Chamberlain, whom he admitted is "scuffling," didn't sound like a manager guaranteeing the reliever a big-league roster spot.

"I don't anticipate making any moves tonight," Girardi said after Monday's game, one in which Chamberlain allowed a run and two hits in two-thirds of an inning. Left unsaid, of course, was the move needed to be made Friday.

CC on schedule

Sabathia (left elbow inflammation) has maintained since being put on the DL Aug. 11 that he would pitch Friday night's game in Cleveland, and all indications after a 38-pitch bullpen session is he'll do just that.

"I threw everything today and felt really good," Sabathia said. "I feel good about going out there on Friday."

Girardi has hedged on declaring the lefthander his Friday starter, saying he wants to see how Sabathia feels Wednesday. Still, Girardi said before Tuesday Sabathia was "likely" to be set for Friday.

Another step for Feliciano

Pedro Feliciano is still progressing toward a September call-up. The reliever, who made three rehab appearances for the GCL Yankees, was promoted over the weekend and was scheduled to pitch Tuesday night for High-A Tampa against Dunedin, but the game was rained out. "Yes, if he's healthy we'll bring him up," Cashman said of Feliciano.

Still mum on Pineda

Cashman again declined to comment on Michael Pineda, arrested early Monday morning in Tampa on a DUI charge. Pineda, coincidentally, was in New York Tuesday for a checkup Cashman described as a "routine" part of the pitcher's rehab from shoulder surgery.