The Yankees will have all of their “core four” healthy for the first time in two months when Andy Pettitte makes his start against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.
Pettitte, who has been on the disabled list since July 18 with a strained left groin, was in the midst of his best statistical season since 2005 before the injury. In the 115.2 innings Pettitte notched before he hit the DL, he posted an 11-2 record, 2.88 ERA, and averaged well over six innings per start.
Although it’s unlikely he’ll be that dominant again right away, he brings immediate stability to a Yankees rotation that looks awfully shaky behind C.C. Sabathia and Phil Hughes.
In Pettitte’s absence, the Yankees have given the majority of his starts to journeyman Dustin Moseley and rookie Ivan Nova. Both have been serviceable, but lack Pettitte’s big game experience and dependability.
Plus, given the performances of two of the Yankees big-name starters — A.J. Burnett and Javier Vazquez — Moseley and Nova are needed to plug other holes in the rotation as well.
Burnett, who began 2010 as the second starter on the Yankees’ depth chart, has had an all-around uninspiring year. The 82.5 million dollar man is currently sporting a 5.08 ERA, a losing 10-13 record, and is on pace to post his lowest strikeout ratio since 2001. With three years remaining on his contract, removing Burnett from the rotation now could potentially have long-term implications.
Plus, as bad as Burnett has been, one can argue he hasn’t been the worst starter the Yankees have relied on heavily this season. That distinction belongs to Vazquez, who was reacquired by the Bronx Bombers through a trade with the Braves before the season. Vazquez, who has only ever had one good season in the American League, possesses a 5.09 ERA, is walking nearly four batters per nine innings, and has seen his velocity fall precipitously this year. The Yankees skipped his last start, and it appears as though he’s been relegated to bullpen duty.
You can’t imagine the Yankees want Burnett or Vazquez anywhere near a playoff game, which makes Pettitte’s return all the more important. Sabathia is one of the best pitchers in baseball, but he can’t win a series by himself. And Hughes has had a solid year, but appears to be fading down the stretch, as he’s made just two quality starts in his past five attempts.
Enter Pettitte, who possesses a wealth of post-season experience and five World Series rings to his name. The southpaw is 18-9 with a sub-4.00 ERA in nearly 300 postseason innings, and there’s a good chance he’ll be the Yankees number two starter once the postseason hits.
Pettitte will have only three starts before the playoffs begin, so he doesn’t have much time to regain mid-season form.
But if he can recover quickly, he might end up sporting some postseason bling on both hands.
