Joe Girardi made it clear yesterday that A.J. Burnett would get the ball for the Yankees against the Rangers tomorrow night, regardless of what happens in tonight’s ALCS Game 3.
And while the erratic righty has done nothing to instill confidence during his miserable second half, both Girardi and GM Brian Cashman said they think he will come through.
“I believe in A.J.,” Cashman said during the team’s workout yesterday at Yankee Stadium.
When it was pointed out that not too many other people do, Cashman explained himself.
“We’ve seen it before,” Cashman said. “We know he’s capable.”
Not so much lately, though. Burnett has been awful for most of the season and hasn’t won since Sept. 1 or pitched since Oct. 2.
But Cashman said there was “no wiggle room” in regards to pitching CC Sabathia on three days’ rest.
“The way the schedule is set up, we’re gonna need four starters,” Cashman said. “He’s capable of doing a good job and we believe he’s gonna do a good job.”
And then he pointed to Saturday’s NLCS Game 1, when Roy Halladay struggled and lost to the Giants.
“It’s a crazy game,” Cashman said. “It’s an unpredictable sport. A.J. has a ton of talent. He is a competitor. He had a bad second half, but he’s capable of doing extremely well and giving us a great start. I’m hoping for it.”
Burnett declined to talk yesterday, but Girardi echoed Cashman’s sentiments.
“I know it’s been a tough year for him at times,” Girardi said. “But we believe in A.J.”
And both Cashman and Girardi insisted there hasn’t been any talk since the series began of not having him pitch that game.
“A.J. hasn’t questioned it. and I haven’t heard any rumblings in the clubhouse, ‘Am I starting Game 4 or not?’ ” Girardi said. “I said all the time I’m on rotation. Maybe other people have talked about it, but my message has been clear that we’re on rotation.”
And now they have to hope that Burnett is up to the task.
“He’s been there, done it,” Cashman said of Burnett in the postseason, where he had mixed results a year ago. “He’s experienced both sides, Jekyll and Hyde.”
dan.martin@nypost.com