Other than veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte starting tonight and staff ace CC Sabathia getting the ball in a potential Game 7, the New York Yankees' pitching rotation was a complete mystery up until a few minutes ago. The Yankees announced that right-handed pitcher Hiroki Kuroda will start tomorrow's Game 2 on short rest while right-hander Phil Hughes and Sabathia will start Games 3 and 4 in Detroit, both on normal rest. Kuroda has never started a game in his MLB career on less than four days rest.
Barring any injuries or questionable decisions by Yankees manager Joe Girardi, Pettitte, Kuroda, and Sabathia will be in line to start Games 5, 6, and 7, respectively. Sabathia's Game 7 start would be on three days rest, something he has become all-too-familiar with throughout his career. If the series gets to this point, it would be the fifth time Sabathia has taken the ball on short rest in the postseason while with the Yankees.