Last night’s rainout not only cost Darrell Rasner his start. It might give him quite a rest before his next one.
Rasner’s outing was rained out last night in what would have been the Subway Series opener at Yankee Stadium, but the Yankee right-hander isn’t going to start today or tomorrow either. Instead, Rasner is slotted to start Wednesday against the Orioles in The Bronx, which means he’ll be starting 11 days after he last did.
That’s a long break, though manager Joe Girardi said last night Rasner could be used in the bullpen. Rasner said he’d be available in relieve in this series.
He also said he had no problems with the Yankees pitching Andy Pettitte and Chien-Ming Wang today and tomorrow, respectively, which had been the scheduled plan.
“Oh, absolutely I understand,” Rasner said. “That’s part of the gig. That’s fine.”
Rasner’s last start was a week ago today, as he took the hill at Comerica Park against the Tigers. He pitched well, going six innings and allowing just two runs on four hits. On Wednesday, though, he’ll be going on 10 days rest, unless he appears out of the bullpen today or tomorrow. And either way, he won’t have started a game in 11 days.
The 27-year-old said if he doesn’t pitch out of the pen, “I’ll throw some side sessions” before Wednesday.
Last night Rasner warmed up but didn’t do any throwing in pregame. When he does pitch again he’ll be taking the hill with an unbeaten record in 2008. Rasner is 2-0 with the Yanks and went 4-0 in the minors this season, toting a cumulative ERA of 1.47.