ANAHEIM, Calif. — Joe Girardi didn’t admit Ivan Nova is pitching for his spot in the Yankees’ rotation tonight against the Angels, even though he hasn’t pitched effectively in three of his previous four outings.
That may change after tonight’s game, but the confident, 24-year-old right-hander hopes to continue the roll Yankees starters are on.
In the past four games — all wins — CC Sabathia, Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia and A.J. Burnett have posted victories and provided much-needed rest to the bullpen.
During the Yankees’ season-high, four-game winning streak that vaulted them ahead of the Red Sox into first place, the starters have posted a 1.74 ERA, have allowed 21 hits and eight walks in 31 innings and held opposing hitters to three hits in 21 at-bats (.143) with runners in scoring position.
Now, it’s up to Nova to keep the string going so that Sabathia can extend it tomorrow night.
Girardi wants Nova to use more than his fastball and curveball which he did almost exclusively last Saturday night in Seattle, where he was rocked for four runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings.
“It’s not good when you pitch like that,” said Nova, who explained he has worked on his slider in between starts. “I don’t feel happy about it.”
Eventually, the Yankees will be hunting hard for a starter. However, currently the market is thin. That leaves the club with options from within if Girardi wants to make a move with Nova, who is 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in the past four starts.
Adam Warren can be elevated from Scranton / Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A) or Hector Noesi can be moved from the bullpen where he has provided valuable long relief to the rotation and swap roles with Nova, who is 4-3 with a 4.67 ERA in 11 games (10 starts).
*
Sixteen hits shy of 3,000, Derek Jeter should be glad to see the Angels this weekend but not exactly excited to face Jered Weaver, tonight’s starter.
In 143 regular-season games, Jeter is batting .335 (192-for-573) against the Angels. At Angel Stadium, he is batting .344 (99-for-288) in 69 games. Against Weaver, Jeter is hitting .118 (2-for-17).
In the last seven games overall Jeter is batting .391 (9-for-23) to lift his average from .254 to .264.
*
Prior to going on the DL May 17 with a shoulder problem, Rafael Soriano was a high-priced, inconsistent, eighth-inning reliever.
When the Yankees signed the right-hander who led the AL in saves last year, to a three-year, $35 million deal, they firmly believed their bullpen was solidified.
Yet, since Soriano went on the shelf the late-innings before Mariano Rivera have been handled a lot better by David Robertson and Joba Chamberlain.
“You just have to make up your mind you are without him and go from there,” said Chamberlain, who has taken over the eighth inning. “He is a big part of the bullpen, but you can’t worry about who is not here.”
Since May 17 when Soriano was shelved, Robertson and Chamberlain have appeared in six games each.
In six scoreless innings, Robertson has allowed two hits, fanned 12, walked two and stranded all six inherited runners. Batters are 1-for-9 against Robertson with runners in scoring position.
Chamberlain hasn’t allowed a run in seven frames, give up five hits, fanned six and walked two. None of the three inherited runners has scored and with runners in scoring position hitters are 0-for-3.
“Everybody is getting the opportunity to pitch, it’s nice to know the situation and who you are going to face,” Chamberlain said.
*
With the Angels slated to start three right-handers this weekend, Jorge Posada will get a chance to dig out of his funk. The question is this: could this be the switch-hitting DH’s final opportunity?
Posada, who no longer starts against lefties because he is hitless in 27 at-bats versus them, is in a 1-for-22 slump and the one hit was a pinch-hit double. For the season he is batting .169 (23-for-136).
Not helping Posada escape the funk is being 2-for-14 (.143) against Weaver.
*
Angels have RHP Dan Haren listed as tomorrow night’s starter, but that could change since Haren suffered back spasms while throwing in the bullpen Wednesday.
Since 2005 Haren has made a MLB-high 215 straight starts.