SLYT | NYY @ TB | Game 1 - New York 6 Tampa Bay 7 | FINAL

New York's World Series run begins tomorrow, with a battle between the two best teams in the American League East.

Here's a few notes of interest, courtesy of our friends over at The LoHud Yankees Blog.

• Michael Pineda played catch today, throwing 25 pitches, but there’s still no timetable or definite plan moving forward. Joe Girardi said he’s not even sure whether Pineda is going to stay in Tampa or follow the Yankees to Baltimore and New York. “They’re still talking about what plan they want to take with him,” Girardi said.

• Boone Logan said there is “night and day” difference in the way his back feels this morning compared to yesterday. There was legitimate pain yesterday. Today there’s only lingering soreness. He fully expects to be ready to pitch tomorrow. “I would be in there, in my mind,” he said.

• The Yankees have claimed right-handed reliever Cody Eppley off waivers from the Rangers. He’s 26 years old and will be assigned to Triple-A to pitch out of the bullpen. Cashman said he likes Eppley’s ability to handle right-handed hitters, and he helps add some depth after losing George Kontos and promoting David Phelps to New York.

• Gustavo Molina has decided to accept an assignment to Double-A. He’ll split the catching duties in Trenton with Jose Gil. Those two did the same thing this winter.


CC Sabathia will make his fourth straight opening day start for the Yankees. He is 0-1 with a 7.70 ERA in those starts. The Yankees are 1-2 in those games.


Projected Lineup:
Jeter SS
Granderson CF
Cano 2B
Rodriguez 3B
Teixeira 1B
Swisher RF
Ibanez DH
Martin C
Gardner LF

It's the same lineup that was used late in the spring, but Girardi says Nunez will start on Saturday at either short or third to give Jeter or A-Rod an early DH day.

That's going to be the regular plan against lefties, to get that extra right-handed bat in the lineup.


Projected Rotation:
Sabathia
Kuroda
Hughes
Nova
Garcia

Pettitte and Pineda could fight for rotation spots eventually. Speaking of Pettitte, he threw a scoreless sixth inning in his first game action since the 2010 postseason.

Pettitte said he expects to stay in Tampa, pitching either in extended spring training or with the Yankees High-A team. He’s still focused on May 1 as a possible return date.


Pitching match-ups vs. Tampa Bay:

Fri. - Sabathia (0-0) vs. Shields (0-0)
Sat. - Kuroda (0-0) vs. Price (0-0)
Sun. - Hughes (0-0) vs. Hellickson (0-0)