As spring training winds down to it’s final week, manager Joe Girardi has announced the starters for the opening series against the Houston Astros.
CC Sabathia will get his sixth straight opening day start for the Yanks, with Hiroki Kuroda and Ivan Nova following him. This means we’ll get to see Masahiro Tanaka make his debut against the Blue Jays in Toronto. The Yankees wanted to split Kuroda and Tanaka up due to the fact that they have similar styles and stuff.
The major competition this year in camp has been for the fifth rotation spot. Michael Pineda, David Phelps, Adam Warren and Vidal Nuno have all pitched well, leaving Girardi with a tough decision to make. However, Girardi said that he knows who will take the fifth spot, but it won’t be announced until he tells the team.
It would come as a surprise if Pineda wasn’t the guy, as he has finally showed glimpses of the player the Yankees traded for two winters ago. For the spring, Pineda has thrown to a 1.20 ERA in 15 innings pitched, with 16 strikeouts and a walk. Phelps would then move to the bullpen, where he would take on a Ramiro Mendoza-type role. Phelps could see action as a spot starter, middle relief guy or as the long man.
We should know relatively soon who the fifth starter will be. Should it be Pineda, the Yankees will have a very solid five from start to finish.
Girardi just said first three starters will be CC, Kuroda, Nova, which means Masahiro Tanaka will pitch in Toronto.
— David Waldstein (@DavidWaldstein) March 24, 2014
