Arm fatigue limits Nova to 75 pitches

ARLINGTON -- Ivan Nova was pulled after 75 pitches against the Rangers on Monday due to what Yankees manager Joe Girardi described as "arm fatigue," which the right-hander said that he believes is part of the process in coming back from Tommy John surgery.

Nova asked out of the game after completing five innings of two-run, five-hit ball, earning the victory as the Yankees held on for a 6-2 win at Globe Life Park. Nova said that though he felt fatigued, he did not experience any pain in his sixth start since Tommy John surgery.

"He was a little bit tired, so we decided to take him out," Girardi said. "He's rebuilding, in a sense. He didn't throw last year, and he said he had some fatigue, so we took him out."

Nova said that the steamy weather -- 97 degrees at first pitch -- was not a factor, saying with a laugh, "I'm Dominican, man. I'm from the Dominican. I just get tired. It's a long process and at some point you're going to feel tired."

Girardi said that in the short term, the fatigue could be a concern, but not in the long view.

"I think it's normal," Girardi said. "They go through a little tired arm sometimes after they make some starts after not pitching for a year and a half. I'm sure he's going through a little bit of it."

The Yankees are using left-hander Chris Capuano as a spot starter on Tuesday in order to offer extra rest to Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and CC Sabathia. Now, it appears that Nova could also take advantage of the breather.

Asked if he would need additional rest before his next start, Nova said that he feels good enough to continue pitching on turn.

"Every time they give an extra day is good; not that I'm asking for an extra day, because I feel good," Nova said. "I want to keep pitching. I want to pitch in five days if they give me a chance."