After being scratched from a Triple-A start Friday night, Ivan Nova will start for the Yankees Sunday at the Stadium against the Rays.
“That’s our plan as of right now,’’ manager Joe Girardi said.
Because the Yankees had to use Hiroki Kuroda and Phil Hughes in Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Dodgers after Tuesday night’s game was rained out, the Yankees needed a starter tomorrow to avoid using either on short rest.
Sent to Triple-A on May 31 with a 5.16 ERA in six games (four starts), the underachieving Nova was 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA in three starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
“He’s been pretty good. He’s had some decent outings,’’ Girardi said before the Yankees’ 6-2 win over the Rays Friday night. “He’s built up again, which is good. At times he has been dominating down there and at times he’s lost the zone a little bit. His stuff has been pretty good.’’
* With Manny Ramirez out of Taiwan and looking for major league work, Girardi was asked whether the Yankees would be interested in him.
“That’s a front-office question,’’ Girardi said.
“Answering questions about players at this time of year is not in our best interest,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said.
It’s highly unlikely the Yankees have an interest in Ramirez, who had 555 homers in 19 seasons and won two World Series with the Red Sox.
* Tired of watching Reid Brignac’s anemic at-bats, the Yankees have decided to take a look at David Adams at third and Jayson Nix at shortstop on a regular basis.
Brignac, a slick-fielding, awful-hitting shortstop, was designated for assignment. His roster spot was taken by Alberto Gonzalez, a shortstop who can play other spots and pitched an inning for the Yankees earlier this season.
“He struggled offensively for us,’’ Girardi said of Brignac, who batted .114 (5-for-44) in 17 games after hitting .250 (12-for-48) for the Rockies in 29 games. “So we will play Adams at third and Nixie [at short] and mix in Alberto.’’
It is a chance for the 26-year-old Adams, a converted minor league second baseman, to prove he can play regularly in the big leagues.
Promoted from Triple-A on May 15, Adams batted .268 (13-for-54) in 15 games (14 starts) last month with two homers and five RBIs.
The return of Kevin Youkilis on the last day of May cut into Adams’ playing time. After going 1-for-3 with an infield single RBI last night, Adams is batting a Brignac-like .138 (4-for-29) with nine starts this month.
Girardi had been using the left-handed hitting Brignac at short and the right-handed hitting Nix at third against right-handed pitchers and Adams at third and Nix at short against lefties.
It is Gonzalez’s second stint with the Yankees this season. He played in three games (May 12-18) the first time. On May 15, he started at short and pitched the final inning.
“I was very surprised,’’ Gonzalez said. “I feel so happy to be here again.’’
Gonzalez was designated for assignment when Brignac was acquired from the Rockies for cash on May 18. Gonzalez batted .224 (17-for-76) in 23 games at Triple-A after being acquired from the Cubs on May 9 for future considerations.
He made his major league debut with the Yankees in 2007 and also played parts of 2008 with the team.
* Alex Rodriguez (hip) took simulated at-bats in Tampa. Eduardo Nunez (rib cage) took batting practice on the field and Francisco Cervelli (broken hand) caught a bullpen session.
Though it’s likely Michael Pineda, who hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2011 because of last spring’s shoulder surgery, will require more time and be optioned to the minors when his rehab clock expires July 9, Girardi did not dismiss the idea of Pineda joining the Yankees’ rotation right away.
With Phil Hughes struggling, there might be a chance for Pineda to avoid staying in the minors. Pineda’s next outing is Tuesday for Double-A Trenton.
“Anything is possible, and I think it’s important that you know no matter who you are in this game somebody wants your job,’’ Girardi said. “That’s the nature of this game, you have to prove yourself over and over.’’
* Girardi said he didn’t think Boone Logan’s left hand was injured. Logan took a smash off the meat of the hand Thursday night.
* The Yankees acquired right-hander Yoshinori Tateyama from the Rangers for future considerations. Tateyama, 37, pitched in 23 games in relief for Triple-A Round Rock this season. He appeared in 53 games for the Rangers in 2011-12 as a reliever.
The Yankees also signed lefty reliever Mike Zagurski and outfielder Corey Patterson to minor league deals.
Zagurski, whom the Yankees tried to get from the Pirates in late May, pitched in six games for Pittsburgh this season.
Patterson, 33, hasn’t played in the big leagues since 2011. He batted .175 (11-for-63) in 19 games for Triple-A Tacoma, a Mariners affiliate. He has played for the Cubs, Orioles (twice), Reds, Nationals, Brewers, Blue Jays and Cardinals.