The Yankees’ rotation is one Triple-A start away from being whole for the first time this year.
After what he described as his best outing so far, Phil Hughes is scheduled to pitch for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at home Saturday night against Pawtucket.
If Hughes, who was targeted as the No. 4 starter before a bulging disk in the upper back shelved him early in camp, comes through Saturday night’s assignment without a problem he will join the Yankees in Cleveland and bump David Phelps or Ivan Nova to the bullpen or SWB.
“[Monday] was miles ahead of where I was,’’ said Hughes, who threw the equivalent of seven innings against Single-A Tampa at the Tampa complex. “The velocity was good the first two times, and [yeserday] it improved.’’
According to Hughes, his location was better than it had been. Though the disk problem vanished weeks ago, Hughes started the season on the disabled list to build arm strength and get sharper.
“There are no issues, everything is fine,’’ Hughes said.
The early favorite to be replaced is Phelps for several reasons.
One, he will start Saturday against the Tigers in Detroit and Nova goes the night before. With Hughes pitching Saturday night, he would slide into the April 11 game in Cleveland, which would be Phelps’ next scheduled outing.
Two, Phelps has more experience working in relief than Nova. Phelps threw 1 1/3 innings in Monday’s Opening Day 8-2 loss to the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
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Derek Jeter long tossed and received treatment at the Yankees’ minor league facility Tuesday but didn’t test his left ankle by taking ground balls or batting practice on the field or in the indoor cages.
Jeter hasn’t played in a game since March 23, when he limped noticeably running to first in a minor league exhibition game.
The next day general manager Brian Cashman said he hoped the shortstop would be back by this Saturday in Detroit, but that is out of the question and nobody can predict when Jeter will return.
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Hiroki Kuroda will attempt to give the Yankees a better chance at victory tonight in the second game of the season than ace CC Sabathia did Monday against the Red Sox.
Kuroda is in his second season with the Yankees. After a sluggish April last year, the veteran right-hander developed into the Yankees’ second-best starter, going 16-11 with a 3.32 ERA and pitching well in two postseason starts.
“I take it year by year. My approach won’t change,’’ Kuroda said when asked if there was a difference between his first and second season in The Bronx. “I think I’m on the right track. I feel fine.’’
Kuroda will be working without Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira and Jeter in the lineup, but the hurler said that won’t alter the way he pitches.
“I have the same approach, nothing to change,’’ he said.
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If Mariano Rivera gets into Wednesday’s night’s game, he will go past Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra for the most seasons (19) played in Yankees history. Jeter will join Rivera in that company when he plays for the first time this season.