TAMPA, Fla. - New York Yankees fifth starter CC Sabathia allowed one run and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings in a minor league intrasquad game.

Pitching for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Double-A Trenton Sunday, the former ace struck out five, walked one and got two double plays. He threw 56 of 88 pitches for strikes.

"I felt good," Sabathia said. "The change up was good. I wanted to work on it and threw some good ones."

The lone run given up by Sabathia came on Tyler Wade's homer in the third.

Sabathia is scheduled to make his first regular season start this year Saturday at Detroit.

"Ready to go," he said.

Sabathia was given the starting role Friday by manager Joe Girardi, who said performance will determine if the move is permanent. The lefty beat out Ivan Nova.

The 35-year-old was 6-10 with a 4.73 ERA last year, when he was slowed by his surgically repaired right knee. Using a tighter brace, he went 2-1 with a 2.17 ERA in his last five starts.

"The knee is good, feels good," Sabathia said.

To get their active roster down to 25, the Yankees placed infielder Greg Bird, right-hander Bryan Mitchell and outfielder Mason Williams on the 15-day disabled lists. The moves involved Bird and Williams were retroactive to March 25 and the one involving Mitchell was retroactive to March 31.