Playoff Pitching: Yankees will skip Burnett; Giants could go without Zito

Added on Oct 05, 2010 by Ted Sillanpaa in

MLB

A.J. Burnett won’t be in the starting rotation for the Yankees in their American League Division Series against the Minnesota Twins.

Burnett, the right-hander signed to an $82.5 million contract before the 2009 season, will most likely be on the 25-man roster, but he won’t get a start, according to manager Joe Girardi. Burnett was 10-15 with an abysmal 5.26 ERA this season.

C.C. Sabathia will face Minnesota’s Nelson Liriano in Game 1. Veteran Andy Pettitte, the most experienced playoff pitcher in action this postseason, faces former teammate Carl Pavano in Game 2 in Minnesota.

The Yankees will send Phil Hughes to the mound against Minnesota’s Brian Duensing when the series shifts back to the Bronx for Game 3. The Twins will start Nick Blackburn in a potential Game 4, but the Yankees haven’t listed a Game 4 starter and would likely call on Sabathia with three days rest.

Burnett, however, pitched himself out of the Yankees rotation and, potentially, off the 25-man roster.

** Giants left-hander Barry Zito, still struggling to work off a seven-year, $126 million deal, won’t get a start in the NLDS against the Braves, according to manager Bruce Bochy. Zito is even less likely than Burnett to earn a spot on the 25-man roster

Bochy told KNBR-680 AM on Tuesday morning that 21-year-old rookie Madison Bumgarner would get a Game 4 start for San Francisco – while mentioning that he will consider using Game 1 starter Tim Lincecum on short rest, too. Zito wasn’t mentioned as a possible starter for the Giants.

Lincecum hasn’t pitched on three days rest in his big league career and has been most effective when fully rested. So, he’s likely to face Derek Lowe in Game 1 and not pitch again, unless a Game 5 is necessary.

Matt Cain will face Atlanta’s Tommy Hanson in Game 2. Hanson has enjoyed success against the Giants this season. Tim Hudson will get the ball for Game 3 in Atlanta against San Francisco’s Jonathan Sanchez.

Rookie Brandon Beach would pitch Game 4 for Atlanta, barring the decision to start Lowe on short rest.

** Rangers star Josh Hamilton will play in the ALDS against the Rays. The slugger is still suffering from painful fractured ribs but played in the final three games of the regular season after being sidelined Sept. 4.

“Nobody’s 100 percent at this time of the season,” Hamilton said when telling the media he would play on Wednesday against Rays’ ace David Price.

The Rangers won’t get outfielder David Murphy back and healthy until Game 3.

** Texas will call on young lefty C.J. Wilson to start Game 2 against the Rays Matt Garza. Tampa’s James Shields will face Rangers righty Colby Lewis in Game 3.

Tampa will send Wade Davis to the mound for Game 4, with David Price in line to pitch Game 5 if necessary.

** The Phillies-Reds NLDS offers a stark contrast in starting pitcher.

Philadelphia will send Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels to the mound in the first three games. All three are experienced and Hamels shined in previous postseason play.

The Reds, meanwhile, are young and without any playoff experience. Hard-throwing Edinson Volquez and righty Johnny Cueto, both coming off just their second big league season, will pitch games 1 and 3 respectively. Veteran Bronson Arroyo will face Oswalt in what could be a crucial Game 2 for Cincy.