Capuano 'excited' to be in Yankees' rotation
NEW YORK -- Chris Capuano, the Yankees' newly acquired left-hander, will be inserted into the rotation and make his first start for his new team on Saturday against the Blue Jays.
Right-hander Shane Greene was originally scheduled to make the start but will be pushed back to Sunday; right-hander Chase Whitley will now pitch out of the bullpen.
"We're going with a guy that has a little bit more experience," manager Joe Girardi said. "Doesn't mean that Chase won't have any more starts for us. … It gives us the opportunity to use our bullpen a little bit different, too."
Whitley has been inconsistent in his rookie season, going 4-3 with a 4.60 ERA, but struck out six in six scoreless innings in his last start against the Rangers. He will almost certainly shatter his career high of 91 innings in a professional season -- entering Friday, he had thrown 87 between the big leagues and Triple-A in 2014 -- and the Yankees are not sure how he will respond to the extra wear on his arm.
Capuano started this season with the Red Sox, and went 1-1 with a 4.55 ERA in 28 relief appearances before being released. The Rockies signed him as a free agent on July 4 and he made four starts in the Minors before being acquired by the Yankees on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations.
"If you had told me about 25 hours ago, I wouldn't have believed you," Capuano said about pitching for the Yankees. "The original plan was to be pitching in Colorado this weekend. I found out last-minute yesterday that I was going to be pitching here, and I couldn't be more excited about it."
Capuano joins right-hander Brandon McCarthy, left-hander Jeff Francis and third baseman Chase Headley as new additions to the team this month, as the Yankees attempt to improve the club for a push to the postseason.
"We're confident that he can pitch extremely well for us and help us out," Girardi said.