The Yankees have played 83 games at their new ballpark and have won 59 (71 percent). And because of their extraordinary success in the Bronx, Mike Scioscia and the Angels are making every effort to slow the unstoppable offense of the Yankees, which includes altering their rotation for the ALCS.
After using John Lackey, Jered Weaver and Scott Kazmir (in that order) in their sweep of the Red Sox in the ALDS, the Angels are switching things up a little to try and gain an advantage against the best home team in the game.
Scioscia has decided to move Joe Saunders, who did not pitch at all in the ALDS, into the No. 2 spot in the rotation against the Yankees to square off against A.J. Burnett in Game 2 of the ALCS.
Saunders has not pitched since Oct. 4 and with the second game of the series scheduled for Oct. 16, Saunders will have had 12 days off between starts, something that could hurt him early against the top of New York's order.
Even though the Yankees are currently set on using a three-man rotation in the series, barring any inclement weather, the Angels will stary with a four-man rotation for the series. Lackey will once again pitch Game 1 before Saunders, and Weaver and Scott Kazmir will follow in Games 3 and 4 respectively.
