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Preview: Arod Circus lands in Chicago (8/5/13)

Andy Pettitte (7-8, 4.28 ERA) kicks off the three game series in Chicago against Jose Quintana (5-3, 3.62 ERA). Pettitte has been pitching better of late, though he hasn’t had much to show for it in the win column. He limited the Dodgers to two runs and eight hits over seven innings in his last start on Tuesday. After allowing four or more runs in six consecutive starts in June and July, Pettitte seems to have finally found his footing in his last two outings. “I was happy with the way Pettitte threw the ball,” Girardi said Tuesday. “To give me seven innings, and only give up two runs against a lineup that’s scoring a lot of runs, that’s pretty good pitching.”

Quintana makes his second career start against his previous employers, looking to improve on his 1-0 ledger. Quintana moved in and out of trouble over five innings and 109 pitches against the Indians, finishing with his 14th no-decision this season.

The Yankees have used seven different players at third base this season, each of them expected to serve as a stopgap option until Alex Rodriguez could return from offseason hip surgery. After a long drama filled wait, the Yankees might finally get their third baseman back on Monday. Major League Baseball is expected to announce its suspensions for players involved with the Biogenesis investigation on Monday, and ARod is the most prominent name on the list of players who are reportedly facing suspension. But Joe Girardi said he plans to pencil Rodriguez into his lineup and expects him to be able to play through an appeal if he is suspended.

“I think all of us are curious what’s going to happen and if Alex is going to be a player for us tomorrow, and what’s going to happen with the other guys that are involved in this,” Girardi said. “Because in my mind, I have him penciled in here tomorrow.” The Yankees’ third basemen have been among the worst in the league this season. The long list of players who Girardi has started at the position, most recently Brent Lillibridge, David Adams and Luis Cruz, are collectively batting just .215 with four home runs and 32 RBIs combined this season

Derek Jeter sat out for the second consecutive game Sunday with a sore right leg. Girardi said before the game that Jeter might have been available as a pinch hitter, but he didn’t play in the 6-3 loss to the Padres. There’s still a chance he could go back on the DL, Girardi said. “I think it’s always a possibility,” Girardi said. “It’s not what we want to do. My hope is I get him in the lineup tomorrow. But I wouldn’t say it’s 100 percent no that he wouldn’t go on it.” Jeter had an MRI, revealing a quad strain and the team will reevaluate him before the game in Chicago.

 

Notes on the game.

The White Sox lost their 10th consecutive game Sunday, marking the first time they have had a losing streak that long since the 1976 season.

Austin Romine hit his first career home run against the Padres on Sunday. He’s now 10 for his last 21 at the plate with a home run and five RBIs.

 

First pitch at 8:10 PM (EST) on Yes