Hughes awaits payoff pitch

The Yankees try to break their three-game losing streak by sending Phil Hughes against the Tigers' Jeremy Bonderman (1-1, 5.74) in the second game of the day-night doubleheader. Hughes has been close to flawless and it seems ages ago that he was competing with Joba Chamberlain for the fifth spot in the rotation.

It is difficult to call Hughes, who has 31 strikeouts in 32 innings, the fifth starter. That only applies to his salary. Check out where he stands compared to the rest of the rotation:  

CC Sabathia (4-1, 3.04) $24,285,714

A.J. Burnett (4-1, 3.40) $16,500,000

Andy Pettitte (4-0, 2.08) $11,750,000

Javier Vazquez (1-4, 8.10) $11,500,000

Phil Hughes (4-0, 1.69) $447,000

By the way, George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees in 1973 for $10 million.