Girardi: Pettitte to start Sunday. Is he the Yankees’ savior?

Now we can all take a deep breath. Joe Girardi has announced the rotation for this weekend in Baltimore.

Friday: A.J. Burnett
Saturday: CC Sabathia
Sunday: Andy Pettitte

The Yankees are 30-24 (.555) since Pettitte hit the DL. With Pettitte healthy, the Yankees were  50-33 (.602). I don’t think he’s completely the reason for the dip in winning percentage, but his absence did contribute a lot.

Not only did the rotation take a hit when Pettitte was gone, but also the bullpen. The bullpen has been very good, but I wouldn’t exactly call them fresh for the postseason. Pettitte had posted a phenomenal year up until the injury, going at least six innings in all starts except three before injuring himself July 18. He had nine starts of at least seven innings, and he completed the eighth four times.

The Yankees have been extremely cautious with Pettitte’s rehab, a strategy I agree with, and I think he’ll be back at full strength Sunday. Is he the Yankees’ savior? He could be. If he has another postseason like last year, he will be.