Hughes has something to prove Sunday; Pettitte also pitches

Phil Hughes looks on in the third inning against the... — Phil Hughes looks on in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles. (May 1, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac

By ERIK BOLANDerik.boland@newsday.comMay 5, 2012

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Phil Hughes' preference is to stay in the rotation. When asked the question, he responded with an emphatic "yeah."

Still, he knows that what happens here and in Rochester on Sunday could impact his status.

Though the Yankees haven't said it for certain, Andy Pettitte could be headed for the Bronx after his start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He'll take someone's rotation spot -- if not late next week, then sometime after that -- and though David Phelps is the likely one to go to the bullpen, Hughes' awful 2012 start makes him vulnerable.

"I don't worry about that stuff," Hughes said before Saturday night's game. "I let the organization make the decisions. I just go out and pitch."

After an excellent spring training, Hughes will take a 1-4 record and a 7.48 ERA into Sunday's start against Luke Hochevar (2-2, 7.36).

Joe Girardi hasn't said what the Yankees will do when Pettitte is deemed rotation-ready. The lefthander threw 96 pitches in an extended spring training game Monday and is supposed to throw 95 to 100 Sunday.

"You have to wait and see what he does tomorrow," Girardi said of when Pettitte will be back. "He should be able to give us a number of pitches and you see how he bounces back after throwing the 90-plus the last time. Then we'll make a decision."

Swisher, Gardner closerNick Swisher, out with a strained left hamstring, hit and ran the bases before Saturday night's game and is a possibility for Sunday. "It's something we'll have to think about," Girardi said.

Brett Gardner (strained right elbow) hit Saturday and will do so again Sunday, and Girardi said the outfielder could be sent for the first of probably two rehab starts Monday.

More DH for A-RodAlex Rodriguez was the DH for the second straight game and Girardi said the reason was two-fold -- a day game Sunday after a night game and the continuation of an effort to keep the third baseman fresh.

"He's fine," Girardi said of A-Rod's health. "I'm just trying to keep him as fresh as I can. I've only sat him one time and it's because I'm able to do what I'm doing."