Yankees to start Chamberlain on Tuesday

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The wait is over.

Joba Chamberlain has a spot in the New York Yankees’ rotation and a date for his first start: Tuesday night against Toronto. Manager Joe Girardi said the 22-year-old will be limited to 65 or 70 pitches when he takes the mound at Yankee Stadium.

After deliberating about the decision during New York’s off day Thursday and consulting with general manager Brian Cashman, Girardi said Friday he decided to keep Andy Pettitte on his regular throwing schedule and use the left-hander for Monday’s series finale against the Twins.

The hard-throwing, high-energy Chamberlain said his goal is to get six innings in.

“I have a tendency to get long in counts, so I’ve got to be more efficient that way,” he said.

New York has been grooming Chamberlain for the rotation since selecting him out of the University of Nebraska with the 41st overall pick in the 2006 amateur draft.

After posting a 0.38 ERA in 19 appearances last season, Chamberlain had a 2.28 ERA in 20 games out of the bullpen this year.

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