Andy Pettitte made his first start with the Yankees this season on May 13. Since that date, the Yankees have gone 26-14, reaching the top of the American League standings. Things were looking very rosy, until this particular Wednesday. Wednesday morning, the Yankees placed CC Sabathia on the disabled list with a strained groin. Wednesday afternoon, Andy Pettitte sustained a fractured ankle.

Pettitte started against the Indians, and in the top of the fifth, Casey Kotchman hit a sharp comebacker that knocked Pettitte down. Joe Girardi and the trainer came out, and Pettitte attempted some warm-up pitches, but he couldn't continue, and further examination revealed the extent of his injury. Official word:

Yankees LHP Andy Pettitte suffered a left ankle fracture. He will be placed on crutches & into a boot. Anticipated healing time is 6 weeks.

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 27, 2012

Here's the play in question:

Pettitte doesn't need surgery, but he will be on crutches, and the expectation is that he won't return to the Yankees until the middle of August. Pettitte owns a 3.22 ERA so it's pretty evident that this is significant, bad news.

Pettitte was relieved Wednesday by Cody Eppley. The team doesn't yet have a plan for how Pettitte will be replaced, but the Yankees might now be more active with the trade deadline approaching than they thought they would be a week ago.