Decision on Pettitte to be made Friday

BOSTON - Yankees general manager Brian Cashman on Thursday said he still believes Andy Pettitte will miss his next start, although he said a final decision will come today.

Pettitte was taken out after five innings Wednesday, and an MRI taken late that afternoon revealed that he has mild inflammation in his left elbow. "He feels better," Cashman said yesterday. "That's my inclination , but we'll talk tomorrow to our trainers, the pitching coach, the manager, everyone, and then we'll make a decision as a group."

Cashman said that if Pettitte doesn't start Tuesday against the Tigers in Detroit, Sergio Mitre likely will, ahead of Alfredo Aceves, who also has been discussed. "I think he's more stretched out," he said of Mitre.

Pettitte isn't the only Yankee who's hurting as they begin a three-game series at Fenway Park against the Red Sox.

Catcher Jorge Posada left Monday's game with pain in his right calf, and though he and Joe Girardi have said he's improved daily since then, the catcher is questionable for the weekend series. A trip to the DL will depend on how he feels Friday.

The best news probably revolves around Mariano Rivera, who has not pitched since last Friday because of stiffness in his left side. After Wednesday's game, Girardi said he was "pretty positive" he'll have the closer this weekend.

In recent days, headline writers have had fun exchanging "sore" for "core" in describing the Yankees' esteemed quartet of veterans - Derek Jeter is the only one who isn't injured - and it's served as a reminder of how fortunate the Yankees were last year in terms of injuries.

"That's usually part of a championship run is staying healthy," Cashman said. "It goes part and parcel."

And the Yankees still have had only Curtis Granderson and Chan Ho Park visit the disabled list.

The Yankees are coming off a three-game sweep of the Orioles, have won seven of their last eight games and have won eight of their nine series.

They take on the suddenly surging Red Sox, who, after being swept by the Orioles last weekend, completed a four-game sweep of the Angels last night to climb a game over .500 at 15-14.

"We answer this question every time we play the Red Sox. It's great for the fans. The fans love it, it's an exciting series," Mark Teixeira said. "They're going to be into it, everyone's going to be watching. But at the same time, the day that we played [Wednesday] counts the same in the standings as the first one we play against Boston. We just have to go out there and try to win the game and not worry about what else is going on."

A.J. Burnett, Sunday night's starter, isn't quite as detached when it comes to the rivalry.

"I live for it," Burnett said. "I think it always brings the warrior out in you, the best in you. You go into a packed house as a visitor, the underdog, with your back against the wall. And it shows you what you're really about."

With Kimberley A. Martin