BOSTON — The Yankees will be reconfiguring their rotation, bumping Phil Hughes from his scheduled start tomorrow against the Angels.
Hughes, who worked the 10th inning in last night’s 3-2 loss to the Red Sox and served up the winning run, was set to pitch the series opener against the Angels at Yankee Stadium tomorrow. But manager Joe Girardi said after the game the right-hander will no longer take the mound, though he had yet to reset the rotation.
“I’ll talk to Larry [Rothschild],” he said, referring to his pitching coach.
Late last night, Rothschild said he was unsure of the rotation plan.
After throwing 13 pitches last night, Hughes said he would be physically able to start tomorrow. But with Girardi ruling him out, the options to open the series would seemingly be Ivan Nova and A.J. Burnett.
Nova most recently pitched last Thursday against the White Sox in Chicago, firing 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball and striking out 10. Burnett pitched last Wednesday against the White Sox, lasting only 4 1/3 innings and surrendering seven runs.
Nova would be on a normal four days’ rest if he went tomorrow, and Burnett would be on five. If Burnett was held back until Wednesday, he would be on six days’ rest.
“We could possibly put A.J. on Wednesday,” Girardi said.
The Yankees could skip Hughes’ turn entirely because they have a day off today. But Hughes did throw six shutout innings in his last turn.
“Yeah, it’s always disappointing when you’re not able to start,” Hughes said of possibly being skipped. “I felt like I made some progress in my last start, so if I have to wait it won’t be something that’s fun to deal with.”
Hughes, who was working in relief for the first time this season, said” “I felt like my stuff was OK.”
He retired Kevin Youkilis on a flyout to open the 10th, then allowed David Ortiz’s ground-rule double to right. After intentionally walking Carl Crawford — “I’ve had some success against Crawford, but in that situation you want a double play,” he said — the pitcher allowed Josh Reddick’s walk-off single to left.
If Nova and Burnett pitch in some order tomorrow and Wednesday, the Yankees would be able to give the rest of their starters extra rest by picking up the rotation with Bartolo Colon Thursday, CC Sabathia Friday and Freddy Garcia Saturday — all on five days’ rest. Hughes could be thrown in there as well if the Yankees stick with a six-man rotation.