Via the NY Post:
Because of A.J. Burnett‘s miserable season, the Yankees will use [CC Sabathia], Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes in the best-of-five series that opens tomorrow night against the AL Central champion Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Even though Burnett was 1-0 with 1.54 ERA in two games against the Twins this year, it would be sending the wrong message to the players to give the right-hander a start considering he went 0-2 with a 6.04 ERA in his last five starts when hitters batted .291 against him.
Working on short rest if Game 4 is required is fine with Sabathia, one of the leading AL Cy Young candidates, who posted a career-high 21 wins.
“I told Joe [Girardi] and Dave [Eiland] I will be prepared to do that,” Sabathia said. “If I got enough rest I want to pitch.”
Burnett has been beyond bad for most of the season so this is a great move. No reason to tempt fate and give him a start. Last year the Yankees had to rely on him because there really were no other options. This year he has been more consistently bad and Hughes is available to step in and take his rotation spot.
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