Top News

Burnett to start Game 4 for Yankees

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-13 08:10

A.J. Burnett will start Game 4 of the American League Championship Series for the New York Yankees on two and a half weeks' rest.

General manager Brian Cashman said on Monday that New York decided against using a three-man rotation against Texas or Tampa Bay, which would have required CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes to all start on three days' rest in the latter part of the best-of-seven series.

"We hope he pitches well for us," Cashman said. "We believe in him every time he takes the mound, but he has struggled, no question about it, here in the second half. But that was then. This is now. He's a very competitive person. We believe that competitive nature will allow him to step up and do a great job for us. We look forward to that. But you can't run away from how he pitched in the second half. He didn't pitch well."

In the second season of an $82.5 million, five-year contract, Burnett did not appear against Minnesota in the division series and has not pitched in a game since Oct 2. He was 10-15 with a 5.26 ERA during the regular season, including 4-13 with a 6.48 ERA over the final four months and 1-7 from Aug 1 on.

"He's got a very complicated delivery," Cashman said. "But when he's on, he's as tough as they come."

If the series against the Twins had gone to four games, Sabathia would have started Game 4 on short rest.

Associated Press