TAMPA — Joe Girardi knows at some point before Opening Day on April 6 he will have to reveal what three pitchers, of the four in contention, will join CC Sabathia and Hiroki Kuroda in the Yankees’ five-man rotation.
Yet the manager said he doesn’t have a firm day when he will make that decision.
“I don’t have a date because I don’t necessarily think I have to rush,’’ Girardi said. “There is a good chance the sixth guy could be in the bullpen.’’
Phil Hughes has more relief appearances (49) than the other candidates combined. Nevertheless, the organization believes Hughes is a starter, and some decision-makers think he can land as high as the third starter.
Freddy Garcia has pitched in 329 regular season games and 327 have been as a starter.
Michael Pineda and Ivan Nova, who pitched well Tuesday night in a 1-0 loss to the Red Sox at George M. Steinbrenner Field, are neophytes with limited relief experience.
“Players have options, some of them, that’s something we have to talk about,’’ Girardi said.
Hughes, Pineda and Nova have minor league options remaining.
Nova, who struggled to locate his fastball in the prior outing, was a lot better last night. In four shutout innings he gave up two hits, didn’t issue a walk and fanned three.
“Everything was a lot better,’’ Nova said. “The fastball command was there, and that’s a good sign. I was more aggressive with the ball. It was a good feeling to pitch a game like that.’’
Garcia starts today against the Blue Jays in Dunedin.
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Mariano Rivera’s second spring appearance consisted of a scoreless inning.
“It’s different, but I take it serious,’’ Rivera said of spring training games.
Rivera, 42, likely will go again Friday or Saturday. And he says spring training never gets tiresome.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t enjoy everything we do in spring training,’’ the all-time saves leader said. “You have to be ready.’’
According to Girardi, David Robertson made progress yesterday with a bruised right foot.
“He exercised a little bit today, he did the elliptical and will continue to try and progress to light jogging,’’ Girardi said. “And this weekend the possibility of getting him off the mound if everything continues to go OK.’’
Robertson’s bruised right foot was taken out of a walking boot Monday when he threw away the crutches and played catch for five minutes. Yankees don’t have a definitive timetable for Robertson’s return.
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Jaron Long, the son of Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long, will start the first Ohio State baseball game played on Nick Swisher Field at Bill Davis Stadium Friday night.
“My brother Mark is throwing out the first pitch,’’ Swisher said. “It’s all an honor. I wish I could be there.’’
Despite being raised by a hitting coach, Jaron Long is a right-handed pitcher.
Swisher, who played at Ohio State, helped the Buckeyes cover their field with turf with a $500,000 donation.
“I love Ohio State, that’s where I got started,’’ Swisher said. “To leave a legacy behind like that. I couldn’t believe they named it after me.’’
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Dellin Betances’ two shutout innings Monday night against the Astros were dominating, and the right-hander from Brooklyn viewed his performance as the payoff for the work he put in trying to straighten out mechanical flaws.
“That was the best one since last year,’’ said Betances, who gave up a hit and fanned two without issuing a walk. “I feel like my confidence is up.’’
Betances is a classic example of power pithers and tall hurlers needing more time in spring training to get sharp. However, the 6-foot-8, 260-pound right-hander from Campus Street High School, didn’t exactly take a step forward last year while pitching for Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He went 4-6 with a 3.42 ERA for Trenton, giving up 86 hits and 55 walks in 105¹/₃ innings. He did strike out 115. At SWB, Betances was 0-3 with a 5.14 ERA in four games. He walked 15 and gave up 16 hits in 21 innings. In two games for the Yankees, Betances walked six and struck out two in 2²/₃ innings.
george.king@nypost.com