CLEARWATER, Fla. — The early favorite was brilliant. The entry who requires more seasoning was sensational. And the one who can work in the rotation or pen was solid.
Welcome to Day 2 of the “Yankees’ Pitching Rotation Derby.”
When spring training opened, Ivan Nova was the favorite to land one of the two spots open in the back of Joe Girardi’s rotation. His arm was big enough and the 10 games he worked in the big leagues last year made an impression.
Yesterday at a sun-drenched Bright House Field against the Phillies, the 24-year-old Nova ran to form.
“Right now I am happy with everything. There are two spots in the rotation right now, and I feel good right now,” Nova said after two perfect innings in which he fanned two and induced four ground-ball outs during a 7-3 Yankees victory. “I don’t have to worry about it. If I get one of those spots, good. I know I can get people out and I know I have really good stuff. I am just paying attention to what I do. I only worry about myself.”
According to the speed guns used by scouts behind the plate, the 6-foot-4 Nova’s fastball reached 95 mph.
That was two mph short of Dellin Betances’ heater. Betances, a 6-8 product of Brooklyn’s Grand Street Campus High School who will be 23 late next month, used that 97-mph heat and knee-buckling curveball to post two scoreless frames in which he fanned three (all in the fifth).
“I wanted to make a good impression,” said Betances, who is in his first big-league camp. “I have to keep working to make the best of it. I have to work the ball down to be a success in the big leagues.”
Betances, who worked 14 games for Tampa (Single-A) and three for Trenton (Double-A) last year, is ticketed for the minors.
That’s not the case for Mitre, who can fill the role of long man or spot starter. Because of that, he likely will be on the staff.
Still, given his choice the 30-year-old right-hander has a preference.
“I want to start,” said Mitre, who appeared in 27 games (three starts) last year. “If I go to the pen, I will try to do my best, starting or not starting. My main thing is I want to start.”
The second favorite going into the gate was Freddy Garcia and he pitches for the first time this spring on Thursday. Bartolo Colon, a long shot because he last pitched in the big leagues in 2009, worked Saturday and was OK.
Girardi differs with the opinion that Nova’s confidence dipped last year when hit hard.
Instead, the manager focuses on the potential.
“He is extremely talented and we like his stuff,” Girardi said. “He is young, it’s about managing the damage.”
Girardi also digs Nova’s belief he can pitch in the majors.
“He should believe in himself, I believe in him,” Girardi said. “I think he has a bright future.”
So, too, does Betances.
“That was pretty good for the first time out, his fastball and curveball were good today,” Girardi said.
Garcia’s start completes the first round and will make it easier to judge who is where.
However, when the favorite breaks from the gate the way Nova did, the race for two spots could quickly turn into the search for a fifth starter.
george.king@nypost.com