Nova pulled from rotation; Phelps starting tomorrow

The Yankees have made a change to their rotation, as Ivan Nova will not pitch tomorrow against the Red Sox. David Phelps is going to make the start instead.

“It’s awesome. It’s a big game, and we need these three coming home,” Phelps said. “To know they have faith in me to go out there and give us a chance to win, it’s a big deal.”

Nova said that he is disappointed but knew that the way he was pitching, lacking his command in the last two starts, he knew this was a possibility.

“It’s really disappointing,” Nova said. “I really want to pitch the last one, but it’s not a chance I’m going to have. I think he’s just doing what is best for the team, and he thinks that’s what best.”

The Yankees could ask Nova to help them out of the bullpen; Joe Girardi said that Phil Hughes’ place in the rotation is secure.

“We look at Hughesy as one of the starters for us. That’s our expectation there,” Girardi said.