Joe Girardi won't reveal his plans for the Yankees' postseason rotation until next week at the earliest, but if the latest movement among the starters is any indication, it looks like Andy Pettitte may draw the No. 2 spot behind CC Sabathia.This is the way I would go as well, and based on the poll on the right, it seems that 53% of you would too. But at the end they're all going to have to pitch well if the Yankees are going to capture that illusive #27.
Chad Gaudin, A.J. Burnett and Joba Chamberlain are slated to pitch the three-game series against the Royals beginning Monday. That means Sabathia, Pettitte and Burnett are lined up to start the final three games of the season at Tampa Bay next weekend.
Assuming Girardi doesn't decide to flip Pettitte and Burnett in the final two games of the season, that would set up Sabathia, Pettitte and Burnett for the first three games of the American League division series.
The decision to pitch Pettitte in game two will become much more significant if ALDS goes five games because he would be the game five starter. It could end up hurting the Yanks if A.J. Burnett happens to find his command come playoff time, because when he's on he's as good as it gets, but that's an issue for another day. For now it's clear the Joe Girardi trusts Pettitte more than Burnett.
4 Comments:
I like this idea of having Pettitte starting game 2.
I have a game today but I will be back in time for the chat!
Later.
I think this is a good thing. Assuming Pettitte does start Game 2, that would mean if the ALDS goes to 5 games, Andy would start Game 5 instead of A.J. Burnett, which I think is a much better plan. Then again though, A.J. has been pitching well his past 2 outings, but we'll see how it plays out.
Same Liam. Mine's at 1, so I gotta be there at 12:15 for warmups and BP.
I wouldn't set this playoff rotation in stone just yet.
Burnett is scheduled to pitch the last game of the regular season and he may only go out there for 60-70 pitches.
He could then pitch Game 2 on normal rest in the ALDS.
That's what Girardi is doing with Sabathia. He's getting his extra days now and next week and will pitch on normal rest between his last regular season start and Game 1 of the ALDS.
So despite Feinsand and others jumping the shark on this issue, I would expect Burnett to pitch Game 2 of the ALDS.
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