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CC Sabathia can’t start every playoff game for the Yankees; Game 1 and Game 4 are enough in Round 1.
Ivan Nova will have enough on his plate as the likely Game 2 starter and possibly Game 5 starter, which means the Yankees have to find someone to start Game 3.
Though he can drive you nuts, my vote goes to A.J. Burnett.
The Yankees might as well go for broke. Burnett has the best stuff of the remaining starters. You have to roll the dice. Burnett gets swings and misses. In the postseason you need to get swings and misses.
The wear and tear is showing on Bartolo Colon. Freddy Garcia has done a masterful job, but it’s a bit of smoke and mirrors. Phil Hughes is having one of those years best put in the rearview mirror, not to mention his recent back issues.
Burnett has the best stuff and stuff wins at this stage.
As one American League executive explained before last night’s game against the Red Sox was rained out at Yankee Stadium: “I ride who’s hot. If no one is hot, I go with stuff.”
Go with stuff. Burnett said he is ready to come through.
“The thing is I haven’t lost confidence,” Burnett told The Post. “I’m not oblivious. Am I pitching the way I should? No, but in no comparison is this last year. I am not content with anything. My head ain’t down. It hasn’t been as good as I want it to be, but my head has never been down.”
Consider that Burnett has struck out 26 batters in his last three starts, a span of 16 innings. Over his last three starts, Colon has struck out eight in 14 innings while Garcia also has eight strike outs over his last three starts, a span of 12 1/3 innings. Hughes has nine strikeouts over his last three starts in 17 2/3 innings.
Manager Joe Girardi wants to weigh all his options, and, also, it would help to know who the Yankees will be playing in the ALDS.
If it’s the Rangers, does Girardi send Hughes out there even though Texas slaughtered the right-hander last October when Hughes was 0-2 with an 11.42 ERA?