Pettitte Pushed Back Again, Will Start Friday

From Matt Ehalt:

The New York Yankees have pushed back Andy Pettitte's next start a second time to Friday against the Blue Jays as he deals with back spasms.

Pettitte had been scheduled to pitch Saturday before having that start pushed back to either Tuesday or Wednesday, and the team is now giving the 40-year-old even more time to ensure he's healthy.

"He's better but instead of saying let's throw a bullpen today and see how he feels and then if he has a setback then Friday becomes jeopardized," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We thought let's give him until Tuesday, we feel everything will be cleared up and then we'll have him on the mound."

The Yankees will now start Ivan Nova, CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes in the three-game set against Arizona beginning Tuesday.

Pettitte had been scheduled to throw a bullpen session Sunday and will now throw it Tuesday. While Pettitte understands why he's was delayed, he'd rather pitch as scheduled.

"I'm on board to a certain extent," Pettitte said before the Yankees faced the Orioles. "I just want to pitch. I understand it."

...

"It's frustrating," Pettitte said Friday. "I had seven weeks of spring training, not one problem. It is a worry for me because I want to be healthy and I want to make my starts, but I also know that it's also a muscle spasm and if it goes away I'm going to be fine to pitch."

I'm not too concerned about this. This kind of thing happens to 40-year-olds in cold weather.