It appeared Joba Chamberlain was hurt by the eight days of rest between his last two starts. His control was a major issue once again (96 pitches, 55 strikes), and he got bombed. Joe Girardi announced Chamberlain as the scheduled starter for Sunday’s game before last night’s game.
Last night: 4 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 5 K.
"We have him scheduled starting for the rest of the season," Girard said. "At times, he will go on extra rest."
I would hope last night’s start would influence that decision to continue letting him pitch on extra days rest, but I guess he doesn’t have any other options. He can’t pitch him every five days until he reaches his limit and then bench him until his first start of the postseason. It’s a really tough situation right now.
After ending July with three of the best starts of his career, Chamberlain has been on a dreadful streak in August. In four starts, he has allowed 19 earned runs, 27 hits, 15 walks in 20 innings pitched.
Chamberlain needs to figure out what he was doing right in July and what he is doing wrong now because he could turn into a major problem for the Yankees down the stretch if he doesn’t start performing.
What worries me is his only throwing 58.7 percent of his pitches for strikes in August. Throwing a lot of pitches in not a lot of innings is very bad for your arm, and that really makes me scared of his health.
Chamberlain will face the White Sox on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. in the last game of the short homestand. I am sure he knows how important it is that he gets back on track come Sunday, and I am sure he wants to get back on track.
After Chicago, he is in line to start one of four games at Toronto.
