OAKLAND, Calif. — Yankees starting pitchers have thrown so well lately, New York manager Joe Girardi would like to see them perform more often.
Then again, suddenly there are now five of them, and if they’re all given an opportunity, that means seeing less of each.
So what’s a manager to do?
For now, Girardi plans to use Monday’s day off as nothing more than an additional day of rest for his quintet, rather than an opportunity to skip one in the next rotation.
If Girardi were tempted to give anyone a break, it would have been Sunday’s starter, right-hander Michael Pineda. After all, he hadn’t won since his first start of the season.
Pineda’s five-game losing streak entering Sunday included having been bombed for a total of 11 runs in his previous two starts.
With Ivan Nova pitching well since being promoted to a starting spot, and CC Sabathia having made a successful return from the disabled list Friday, the pressure was on Pineda on Sunday.
And he responded. He recorded his first win since April 6 with six solid innings.
He’s tentatively slotted to pitch again Saturday at Tampa Bay. He’ll have five days’ rest — as will every Yankees starter who takes the mound before him this week.
Call it a reward for work well done.
