Andy Pettitte Makes Third Minor League Rehab Start

New York Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte made his third minor league rehab last night.  Other than the fact that a few innings were tacked on, this start didn’t appear to be any different than Pettitte’s previous two.  However, every pitch Pettitte throws from here on out will be that much more important this season due to yesterday’s news that fellow Yankees starter Michael Pineda will be sidelined for the year.

Mike Ashmore, a beat writer for the Trenton Thunder, reported Pettitte’s final line: five innings pitched, seven hits, four runs (three earned), one walk and three strikeouts.  59 of Pettitte’s 81 pitches went for strikes and his fastball sat around 88 mph.

Pettitte is expected to require at least two more starts in the minors before he makes his season debut for the Yankees.  So far this season, Pettitte has allowed four earned runs over his 12 innings of work while striking out eight and walking one over that span.

With word of Michael Pineda’s torn labrum, the pitching depth the Yankees entered the 2012 regular season with took a large hit.  It will now be up to Pettitte to provide the lift that New York’s rotation sorely needs.

Through their first 18 games, the Yankees have three starters with ERA’s north of 5.25.  If you remove C.C. Sabathia and his 5.27 ERA from the equation, the Yankees are left with a pair of back-of-the-rotation arms who are sporting ERA’s over 7.50; Phil Hughes (7.88) and Freddy Garcia (9.75).

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