If Ivan Nova wakes up today with all his body parts working, he will start the nightcap of a split-gate doubleheader against the Orioles tonight at Yankee Stadium.
“He is scheduled to pitch unless something happens,” manager Joe Girardi said of the right-hander who was the Yankees’ second-best starter when he was sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 3 to make room for Phil Hughes’ return from the disabled list. “Right now his ankle is fine, but who knows.”
Nova, who was 8-4 and riding a four-game winning streak when sent down, suffered an ankle injury in his first of three minor league starts. He was forced out of the final one and landed on the seven-day DL. He came through a simulated game this week and was pronounced fit to pitch.
Bartolo Colon will start the first game today.
Nova is working the second game in order for the Yankees to juggle their roster after the opener. It’s possible reliever Hector Noesi will be optioned to Triple-A to make room for Nova. If not, reliever Luis Ayala, who hasn’t pitched well recently, could be designated for assignment.
In the bigger picture, a solid outing by Nova could force the Yankees to re-insert him into the rotation for a struggling Hughes, who is 1-2 in four starts since coming off the disabled list. In 21 1/3 innings, he has allowed 28 hits, nine walks and has a 5.49 ERA.
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Rafael Soriano was activated from the disabled list last night, after missing nearly 2½ months with right elbow inflamation.
Soriano had struggled in the adjustment from being a closer last season with the Rays to being an eighth-inning setup man for the Yankees. Now, with Dave Robertson excelling and Girardi saying he would ease Soriano back, it looks like the right-hander had better prepare for another step down the Yankees’ bullpen pecking order.
“Joe said he might try to take it easy on me and not try to go too fast, because I don’t want to go back to the minor leagues,” Soriano said.
Asked if he should be pitching the eighth inning, Soriano replied, “I’m not sure what the manager’s going to do about that situation. I’m happy to come back here, try to help the team. In whatever decision Joe makes I will be happy with that.”
Soriano was signed to a three-year, $35-million dollar contract to be the primary setup man, but struggled mightily, with a bloated 5.40 ERA before being sidelined.
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According to Girardi, Alex Rodriguez will report to the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa soon.
“He is supposed to be in Tampa sometime next week,” Girardi said of his cleanup hitter who is coming back from arthroscopic knee surgery.
The Yankees believe Rodriguez will be able to come off the DL in two weeks.
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To make room for Soriano, the Yankees optioned lefty Steve Garrison to Double-A Trenton. The native of Ewing, N.J., appeared in one game and retired the two batters he faced. . . . Righty Sergio Mitre, out with inflammation in his pitching shoulder, was moved from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL.