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Pavano, Yankees face Devil Rays in season opener

Apr 2, 2007 - 1:46 PM Tampa Bay (0-0) at NY Yankees (0-0) 1:05 pm EDT

BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- Carl Pavano has been the center of attention without stepping on the field in nearly two years. Now he will get his chance on the Opening Day stage at Yankee Stadium.

In a weird twist of fate, Pavano will take the mound when the New York Yankees face the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Monday.

Pavano has taken criticism from teammates and the media for not pitching since the middle of the 2005 season with a number of odd injuries. One of those injuries came in a car accident he failed to initially report to the Yankees.

But the much-maligned hurler gets a chance to start living up to his four-year, $39.95 million contract on Monday. While it is just the first game of the season, Opening Day is a pressure-packed environment, especially in Yankee Stadium.

Manager Joe Torre was forced to start Pavano in the opener due to injuries. Ace Chien-Ming Wang is expected to be sidelined until mid-April with a hamstring injury, and Andy Pettitte experienced back spasms in the spring, but should start Wednesday against the Devil Rays.

Pavano is 3-2 with a 2.92 ERA against the Devil Rays in five career starts.

New York has won nine straight division titles but is looking for its first World Series championship since 2000. But while that would not qualify for a drought for most clubs, the 26-time world champions are desperate for another ring.

Much of that desperation is on the shoulders of star third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who has the opportunity to opt out of his contract after the season if he cannot produce on the big stage.

Tampa Bay will start All-Star lefthander Scott Kazmir, who is 1-3 with a 3.29 ERA in five appearances against the Yankees.

The Devil Rays were a league-worst 61-101 last season and have won 70 or fewer games each campaign in their nine-year existence.