There is a chance of rain in the forecast for Games 1 and 2 of the ALCS on Friday and Saturday in the Bronx, and that appears to be the only thing holding Yankees manager Joe Girardi back from a decision to go with a three-man pitching rotation for the series with the Angels.
Girardi spoke with reporters on a conference call Tuesday and indicated that the Yankees are strongly leaning toward staying with the three-man rotation that led them to a sweep of the Twins in the ALDS, the New York Daily News reports.
CC Sabathia, the winner of Game 1 of the ALDS, is scheduled to pitch in Game 1 of the ALCS and would also be used in Games 4 and 7 with the three-man setup. Sabathia would be asked to pitch only once on short rest given the off days and schedule of the series.
The decision to go with just three starters would mean that A.J. Burnett would pitch Games 2 and 5, and that Andy Pettitte would get the ball for Games 3 and 6.
If the weather causes the Yankees to use a fourth starter in the series, the choice would likely be between Joba Chamberlain and Chad Gaudin, though Girardi has yet to make it clear which pitcher he would select.
