A-Rod likely to DH Monday night
Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees fouls off a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. (April 8, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Joe Girardi decided Alex Rodriguez didn't need a break after all. After saying Saturday that he was leaning toward giving the third baseman a day at DH Sunday, Girardi had A-Rod, who battled injuries all last season, at third base.
"I talked about it with him last night, I rechecked with him this morning, he said he feels great," Girardi said.
He said he'll likely use Rodriguez as the DH Monday night in Baltimore against lefthander Brian Matusz and possibly will do it again Tuesday with lefty Wei-Yin Chen on the mound.
A-Rod had one of the Yankees' three hits Sunday, a long double to center.
"It's early," Girardi said. "Maybe if we get later in the year, it's a little bit different, but I checked with him two or three times just to make sure . . . I'll get to that point, too, where I won't ask."
Girardi instead had Nick Swisher as his DH Sunday, with Raul Ibañez getting the start in right. "Just because of what he went through the last three or four weeks of spring training," Girardi said of Swisher, who missed time because of soreness in his right and left groin. "He feels good. I just want to make sure those groins don't act up a little bit."
No worries
Two opposing teams' scouts said not to make too much of Hiroki Kuroda's poor start in his Yankees debut Saturday night. "For me, he's still a strong No. 3," one said. "It was just one of those nights." Kuroda, who allowed six runs ( four earned) and eight hits in 52/3 innings, is scheduled to start the home opener Friday against the Angels.
Extra bases
Andy Pettitte will pitch Monday night in Clearwater for the Class A Tampa Yankees . . . Michael Pineda (shoulder tendinitis) played long toss with pitching coach Larry Rothschild and is expected to do so again Monday or Tuesday. "He's been able to do everything we've asked him to do and hasn't come up sore the next day," Girardi said. Pineda will remain in Tampa to rehab . . . David Phelps made his major-league debut with two on and one out in the eighth and got a strikeout and a groundout. "It was awesome," said Phelps, who had his parents, wife and newborn in attendance. "You want to go out and make a good first impression." . . . Ivan Nova, 16-4 with a 3.70 ERA last season, starts Monday night against the Orioles. He struggled throughout spring training with his fastball command and went 1-2 with an 8.06 ERA. "You can worry about it a little bit,'' Girardi said, "but you can get fooled by spring trainings, too."
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