Girardi might give Yankees' Hughes ball in Game 2

Joe Girardi said he wasn't prepared to make an official announcement on the rotation Wednesday, but he hinted Phil Hughes would get strong consideration for starting Game 2.

"We'll look at numbers, we'll look at a lot of things," Girardi said. "There's a lot of factors that go into making a rotation. Do you decide to go left-right-left-right? Or do you back your lefties together?"

Final rotation and roster discussions took place with Girardi, his staff, general manager Brian Cashman and scouts after yesterday's workout.

"I think the proper way to do it is to have our discussion with our scouts and everyone involved and then we'll have a rotation," Girardi said.

In the Yankees' Division Series sweep of the Twins, who featured a lefthanded heavy lineup, they went with back-to-back lefthanders to open that series, with CC Sabathia pitching Game 1 and Andy Pettitte Game 2.

After yesterday's workout Pettitte indicated he had been told which game he was starting but said it was Girardi's announcement to make.

There's plenty to weigh in going with Hughes, who has good numbers - though in a small sample size - in Game 2.

In two career starts - he didn't start a game in Rangers Ballpark this season - Hughes is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA there. Hughes appeared in relief Sept. 10 this season, pitching a 1-2-3 inning.

Hughes, though exceptional in Game 3 against the Twins was better on the road, 7-4 with a 3.47 ERA, than at home, 11-4, 4.66.

Pettitte did pitch against the Rangers this season and it was April 18 at the Stadium when he allowed two runs and four hits in eight innings of a 5-2 Yankees' victory. Pettitte did not pitch this season at Rangers Ballpark and he doesn't have good career numbers there, 2-4 with an 8.22 ERA in seven starts.

"There's a lot of things that will determine and factors that we have to discuss in making that rotation," Girardi said. "A lot of different things."