Yanks likely to use Whitley to give Tanaka extra day

NEW YORK -- Chase Whitley is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start on Tuesday, as the Yankees will incorporate a sixth starter to their rotation, part of a strategy in navigating a stretch that sees them play 30 games in 31 days.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said that the team is planning on having Adam Warren start on Monday against the Rays and then will summon the 25-year-old Whitley for Tuesday's game, giving Masahiro Tanaka an extra day before he takes the ball on Wednesday.

"Now, could something happen to change that? Yes," Girardi said. "I don't know what it would be, but those are our intentions."

Whitley had a strong spring but was sent to the Minors so he could continue starting, allowing him to be stretched out for this opportunity. In three starts for the RailRiders, Whitley is 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA, allowing 13 hits, six walks and 13 strikeouts in 17 innings.

A 15th-round selection of the Yankees in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, Whitley was 4-3 with a 5.23 ERA in 24 games (12 starts) for the Yankees last season.