TAMPA — Even though Hiroki Kuroda is guaranteed to be in manager Joe Girardi’s Yankees rotation, the right-hander won’t spend spring training on cruise control.
“I don’t think I had all my stuff,’’ Kuroda said following a three-inning stint against the Astros last night at George M. Steinbrenner Field in a 4-3 loss. “It wasn’t consistent. My two-seamer wasn’t there. The cutter wasn’t cutting.’’
Girardi said early in camp that CC Sabathia and Kuroda weren’t competing for rotation spots. That left four pitchers for the final three slots.
Although he wasn’t satisfied, Kuroda didn’t allow a run, gave up two hits, walked two and struck out two.
“Usually, the first half of spring training isn’t really good,’’ said the 37-year-old who signed a one-year contract for $10 million. “I start to warm up in the latter half.’’
Kuroda credited catcher Francisco Cervelli, who is a lock to be Russell Martin’s backup if he stays healthy.
“Cervy called a good game,’’ said Kuroda, who pitched to Cervelli for the first time in a game. “He insisted that I throw the cutter inside to lefties.’’
“He was off a little bit, not as consistent as he wanted,’’ Girardi said. “He wasn’t as sharp command wise as the last time.’’
Ivan Nova needs to find the strike zone better against the Red Sox tonight than he did in his last outing, last week against the Blue Jays.
Nova, a 16-game winner last year, wasn’t guaranteed a spot in Girardi’s five-man rotation and is competing with Michael Pineda, Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia for three spots.
“We are getting closer to [the time for evaluations]. You want to see some progress going into the third start,’’ Girardi said. “You take a hard look at the fourth and fifth starts.’’
Girardi said he hopes to see Nova command his fastball better than he did last week.
“He struggled with [commanding his fastball] the first couple [of starts] and that’s important to me.’’ Girardi said.
“Hopefully, it will be there [tonight],’’ Nova said of locating fastballs for strikes after his last outing. “Whatever happens, happens.’’
Nova is confident he can throw fastballs for strikes, but is puzzled by how different the results are in bullpen sessions compared to his two exhibition outings.
“I am perfect in the bullpen, but I get [in a game] and try to do too much,’’ said Nova, who gave up five runs and five hits to the Blue Jays in 2 ²/₃ innings. “The fastball is a problem right now, but I know I will get it back.’’
Nova’s fastball was clocked at 93 to 96 mph, so velocity isn’t a problem. The same can’t be said about location.
Girardi’s plan is to play infielder Eduardo Nunez tonight. Girardi said a recent CAT scan on Nunez’s bruised right hand was negative.
“If he goes through BP and is sore, he will be out of the game,’’ Girardi said.
Nunez hasn’t played since getting hit by a pitch on March 5.
Bernie Williams arrived in camp yesterday and will be uniform tonight in the role of guest instructor.
Dellin Betances impressed in a two-inning stint in which he didn’t allow a run, one hit, fanned two and didn’t issue a walk.
“From the first time he pitched to this time, much better,’’ Girardi said of the Brooklyn product. “What I saw in [the bullpen] I saw tonight, a good fastball and good curveball. I have seen a lot of growth.’’