PHILADELPHIA — CC Sabathia already has dispelled the notion he can’t succeed on three days’ rest in the postseason, so who better than the Yankees’ $161 million thoroughbred to take the ball for Game 4 of the World Series against the Phillies?
Manager Joe Girardi made the decision official yesterday before the Yankees’ 8-5 victory in Game 3, naming Sabathia his starter for tonight, but stopped short of saying he’ll employ a three-man rotation for the remainder of the series. Chad Gaudin remains a possibility to pitch Game 5 tomorrow.
“The important thing on short rest is you have to know how your pitcher physically is feeling,” Girardi said before last night’s Game 3. “CC went through all his work [Friday], and we talked to him, and he threw a pretty good game after short rest last time, and then he had some extra days off.”
Girardi said he is still considering whether he should use A.J. Burnett and last night’s starter, Andy Pettitte, on three days’ rest for Games 5 and 6, respectively. But the manager hinted he is leaning in that direction.
“This is the World Series,” Girardi said. “There is no baseball after the World Series for four or five months, so there is plenty of time to rest.
“A.J. was pretty good on short rest last year [with Toronto]. He actually shut us down on short rest last year. And they physically feel good.”
Sabathia pitched seven strong innings in Game 1 of the World Series, allowing two runs, but it was an afterthought to the classic performance by Cliff Lee, who allowed only one run in a complete-game victory that included 10 strikeouts.
The good news for Sabathia is he won’t have to deal with Lee tonight. The Phillies are set to start Joe Blanton, who has a 4.66 ERA this postseason.
Sabathia, who is 3-1 with a 1.52 ERA this postseason for the Yankees, said the short rest won’t affect him.
“I’ve had enough rest the past two months to be able to feel comfortable enough to pitch on three days’ rest,” Sabathia said.