Andy Pettitte will start for the Yankees on Tuesday night against the Blue Jays, according to Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com. It will be Pettitte's first start since June 27 when a Casey Kotchman line drive fractured his left ankle. There was some speculation earlier today that Pettitte could return as early as Tuesday, and manager Joe Girardi confirmed it in his pre-game interview.
Girardi will likely have Pettitte on a short leash as he threw only 55 pitches in his last simulated game on Wednesday. He will likely be capped at around 70 pitches, according to Girardi.
Pettitte returned to the Yankees for the 2012 season after a brief one-year retirement, making his first start on May 13. He was very impressive in nine starts prior to the injury, posting a 3-3 record with a 3.22 ERA and a 1.091 WHIP. The Yankees look to prepare their rotation for a possible playoff run, and getting a healthy Pettitte a few stars in September will help.
Veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte could make his long-awaited return to the mound for the New York Yankees as early as Tuesday. Sidelined since late June with a left ankle fracture, Pettitte says he is "ready" to return but is awaiting final approval from the team doctor, per The New York Times:
Pettitte, 40, may feel that he is ready, but the Yankees not yet convinced. They will send Pettitte to see Dr. Christopher Ahmad, the team physician, Friday. If he is cleared, Pettitte could conceivably start Tuesday at Yankee Stadium in place of David Phelps.
Pettitte has thrown several bullpens and three simulated games during his rehab -- the latest a four-inning, 55-pitch outing on Wednesday -- but has not had the opportunity to appear in a live-game setting because of the minor-league season coming to an end.
If Pettitte does return on Tuesday, the young right-hander Phelps is likely to return to his role as a long-man in the bullpen.
Just the other day, Andy Pettitte was knocked down and out by a baseball hit by Casey Kotchman. Pettitte suffered an ankle fracture, and early word was that he wouldn't return to the Yankees until at least the middle of August. Now we have a clearer picture of the timetable:
OFFICIAL: LHP CC Sabathia placed on 15-day DL with left groin strain; LHP Andy Pettitte placed on 60-day DL with fractured left ankle.
Pettitte, obviously, cannot be activated from the 60-day DL until at least 60 days have passed, so he's out for a minimum of two months. Which means, instead of targeting the middle of August, the Yankees are targeting the end of August, as a best-case scenario. Lots of things yet to occur or not occur between now and then.
Pettitte had been probably the Yankees' most effective starting pitcher before getting hurt. With both Pettitte and Sabathia on the DL, starting spots will be given to Freddy Garcia and Adam Warren. Warren was drafted by the Yankees in the fourth round in 2009, and the righty has been just all right in 2012 with triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Andy Pettitte took a batted ball off the ankle, and his ankle is fractured. He isn't expected to be able to return to the Yankees until the middle of August.
