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Mussina returns to rotation as Yanks continue playoff push

Sep 12, 2007 - 2:08 PM NY Yankees (82-62) at Toronto (72-72) 7:07 pm EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) - The New York Yankees are likely headed to the playoffs. The question is, is Mike Mussina?

Mussina makes his first start since being demoted to the bullpen on Wednesday, and will try to extend the Yankees' winning streak to seven games against the Toronto Blue Jays in the middle game of a three-game series.

New York, which is a season-high 20 games over .500 following six straight wins, leads the Detroit Tigers (79-67) by four games in the wild card race. It also trails the Boston Red Sox (88-58) by five games in the American League East.

Mussina (8-10, 5.51 ERA) was sent to the bullpen for the first time in his career following a poor stretch in which he went 2-3 with a 8.87 ERA in five starts in August.

The veteran righthander made the first relief appearance of his 17-year career on September 3 in place of an injured Roger Clemens. Mussina allowed two runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 7-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

Mussina last started on August 27 and was rocked for six runs and nine hits in three innings of a 16-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

Now he gets to show he should be part of the Yankees' playoff rotation. Mussina will be making his first start against the Blue Jays this season, going 21-11 with a 3.38 ERA in 39 career outings.

Dustin McGowan (10-8, 3.90) gets the ball for Toronto, which has lost four straight contests.

McGowan is looking for his third straight win, striking out 12 in eight innings of a 7-2 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Friday. The righthander, who is 2-0 against the Yankees this season, has allowed three runs and 10 hits over his last 16 innings.