OUCH AT FIRST: Alex Rodriguez, running toward first as he grounds out in the second inning, left the game after his only at-bat due to more calf pain during the Yankees’ 6-0 loss. Paul J. Bereswill
Despite Andy Pettitte’s recent setback with his groin injury, Brian Cashman still expects his vital lefty to be a factor in September and October.
“Pettitte is not going to have a season-ending groin injury,” Cashman told The Post.
In addition, the Post has learned that the Yankees plan to promote Ivan Nova to make at least one or two starts in September as a way to give increased rest to the rotation. Nova, 23, is the Yankees’ top pitching prospect at Triple-A.
Nova has nearly identical stats (12-3, 2.86 ERA) at Triple-A as those of Jeremy Hellickson (12-3, 2.45). However, Tampa Bay’s Hellickson is viewed as a top-of-the-rotation prospect by scouts and Nova is more of a back-end guy. But Nova is going to end up with a job much like that of Hellickson, who also is a 23-year-old righty.
Hellickson initially was promoted in early August to provide rest to a Tampa Bay rotation that was the only one in the majors that had used only its original five members. Since then, Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann have had to go on the disabled list, and Hellickson has been incredibly valuable. He is 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA, after giving up three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings last night in Oakland, getting a no decision. The Yankees hope Nova does not have the same prominent job. Instead, they hope he could spot start a time or two as a way to give extra rest to rotation mainstays CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Javier Vazquez and Phil Hughes and — just as vital — help limit Hughes’ overall innings. Hughes has pitched 140 2/3 innings. The team has not announced the righty’s regular-season innings cap, but it is believed to be about 170-175 innings.
Pettitte has not pitched since July 18. He had hoped to be back about now, but he has endured a few setbacks along the way. That has raised concerns about his viability for returning at any point this year because he is 38 and time is running out on the schedule. But Cashman projected optimism that Pettitte will heal in time to return to the rotation.
For now, though, Cashman expressed enthusiasm for the way Dustin Moseley has filled in for Pettitte. The righty is 3-2 with a 4.97 ERA in five starts, and while the numbers are not overwhelming, Cashman said Moseley is doing enough to allow the Yankees a chance to win his starts while providing cover for Pettitte to rehabilitate his groin.