Cliff Lee knows all about following in CC Sabathia's footsteps, for better or worse.

The Cleveland Indians left-hander, who opposes his former teammate Thursday in the first game at the new Yankee Stadium, is off to a rocky start after succeeding Sabathia as the American League's Cy Young Award winner.

With a 0-2 mark and a 9.90 ERA, Lee is one loss shy of his total last season, when he was 22-3.

His National League counterpart can relate. The San Francisco Giants' Tim Lincecum, who struck out 265 batters, has endured command troubles in his first two starts. He's 0-1 and his 7.56 ERA is nearly five runs higher than last year's 2.62.

Boston Red Sox right-hander John Smoltz, the 1996 NL Cy Young winner, said there are countless factors that make it nearly impossible to duplicate performance.

"When you have that much gap of time, there's no reason to believe you're going to pick up where you left off," Smoltz said. "I know every year I go into spring training and wonder if I'm going to have my same fastball."

At least Lee and Lincecum can look to Sabathia for inspiration. After winning the 2007 AL Cy Young, Sabathia went 0-3 with a 13.50 ERA in his first four starts last season before righting his course.

He finished 17-10 with a 2.70 ERA and signed a seven-year, $161 million contract with the New York Yankees.

Lee, whose fastball location has been off, said he's not caught up in Thursday's matchup.

"I'm concentrating on the Yankees hitters," he told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer. "CC isn't hitting, so I'm not worried about him."