BOSTON — Joe Girardi has his rotation set through Friday night against the Tigers at Yankee Stadium.
What the Yankees manager doesn’t have — at least publicly — is a starter for Saturday night.
Since last night’s game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park was washed out, CC Sabathia starts tonight against the Rangers instead of working last night.
Ivan Nova goes Friday, but Girardi has options for Saturday. He can bring Sabathia back on regular rest or go with the struggling Freddy Garcia. But what Girardi won’t do is insert rookie David Phelps into the rotation.
“After that, we’ll see,’’ Girardi said of Nova.
Because Thursday — Garcia’s normal day — was dark on the schedule, skipping the veteran right-hander was possible. Now, that is a stronger possibility if another starter doesn’t require an extra day of rest.
Garcia has been awful in three starts. He is 0-1 with a 9.75 ERA and has allowed 20 hits, three walks and hit a batter in a dozen innings. Batters with runners in scoring position are hitting .444 (8-for-18) against him.
Saturday, he drained the Yankees bullpen because he lasted only 1²/₃ innings in a game the Yankees came back from a 9-0 deficit to win, 15-9. In that short stint, Garcia gave up five runs and seven hits.
While velocity isn’t Garcia’s calling card, his fastball was tracked at 83 to 85 mph in the first inning, and that isn’t enough to keep big league hitters honest.
Girardi said he asked the 35-year-old Garcia if he were healthy, and the pitcher said he was.
No makeup date was announced for last night’s rainout. The Red Sox and Yankees have two mutual off days before beginning series in Fenway Park on July 12 and Sept. 10.
“You don’t want to have rainouts because eventually they either take up your off days or split doubleheaders,’’ Girardi said. “But it happens and you have to deal with it.’’
Girardi didn’t say he felt sorry for what Bobby Valentine is going through, but he understands what is happening to the first-year Red Sox manager who was booed in two games by the Fenway denizens this past weekend.
“It’s not easy. You know at some point you’re going to get to the other side but while you are going through it, it’s tough,’’ said Girardi, who hasn’t been subjected to much booing as the Yankees manager.
Weather permitting, Andy Pettitte will make a start for Trenton (Double-A) Wednesday. … Michael Pineda will have his right shoulder examined by Dr. Chris Ahmad today in New York and undergo a dye contrast MRI. Pineda was shut down after 15 pitches in an extended spring training game Saturday after opening the season on the DL with tendinitis in the back of his right shoulder.
In his haste to get going for batting practice Saturday, Mark Teixeira wore one sock marked “25’’ and another marked “52.” The second one belonged to Sabathia and mistakenly was put in Teixeira’s locker. Considering Teixeira went 3-for-6 with six RBIs and hit two homers against the Red Sox Saturday and Sabathia is pitching tonight against the Rangers, it will be interesting to see if Teixeira stays with the mis-matched numerals on his socks. … Joba Chamberlain will be in New York Thursday and have his right foot looked at Friday. Chamberlain, who injured the foot jumping on a trampoline in spring training, has been throwing while sitting on a stool.