Starting pitcher A.J. Burnett of the New York Yankees walks...

Starting pitcher A.J. Burnett of the New York Yankees walks off the field after being pulled during the 6th inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. (Aug. 15, 2011) Credit: Getty

A.J. Burnett makes his first start Friday night since his mini-meltdown in Minneapolis on Saturday. "We need him to pitch well, no doubt," Girardi said. "It's a big start. We're trying to determine how to get down, if we're going to get down to a five-man rotation -- God knows if we're going to be able to do it with all these doubleheaders we have -- but it's a big start for him. We need him to pitch well."

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