CLEVELAND — Joe Girardi thinks Andy Pettitte will start tomorrow night against the Rangers at Yankee Stadium. The veteran lefty is convinced.
“I feel good. We haven’t even talked about me missing a start,” Pettitte said yesterday after a short bullpen session.
TONIGHT’S PREVIEW: Rangers at Yankees
Pettitte left Friday night’s game with lower back discomfort that first surfaced in Texas on May 25 during a workout.
“I am making my start. I feel better [yesterday] than [Sunday],” Pettitte said. If Pettitte can’t go, the Yankees have Chien-Ming Wang ready to step in.
*
Wang remains in the bullpen. The Yankees know he eventually is going back into the rotation, but don’t have a specific date, barring an injury, because pitching coach Dave Eiland and Girardi like the way Phil Hughes is throwing.
“Right now the plan is for Hughes to make his next turn [Friday against the Rays],” Girardi said.
Girardi plans to discuss with GM Brian Cashman today how to best utilize Wang, who has thrown five scoreless innings in two relief outings but is best suited as a starter.
*
The Yankees set a MLB record last night when they didn’t commit an error for the 18th straight game.
“Guys are playing great and we are making the plays we are supposed to make,” Girardi said.
*
Outfielder Xavier Nady‘s first day in a throwing program ended when he felt discomfort in his right elbow and catcher Jose Molina suffered a setback rehabbing a strained left quad muscle.
“He was throwing 50 to 60 feet and he felt it,” Girardi said of Nady.
Brian Bruney, who is on the DL for the second time this year, is slated to test his injured right elbow by playing catch today.