MLB

• Yankees to start Burnett in Game 5

  
  

  Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi has decided to start A.J.

  Burnett on three days' rest for Monday's Game 5 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

  The defending World Series-champion Phillies will start lefty Cliff Lee in Game 5.

  Philadelphia trails the best-of-five set, 2-1, going into Sunday's contest, which will have a pitching matchup of CC Sabathia for the Yankees and Joe Blanton for the Phillies. Sabathia, the Game 1 starter, will also go on three days' rest.

  Burnett picked up the victory in Game 2 when the Yankees beat Pedro Martinez in a 3-1 final. In that game, Burnett allowed four hits and a run while walking two and fanning nine over seven innings. He's 4-0 with a 2.33 ERA in four career starts on three days' rest.

  Girardi didn't say who he would start in Game 6, if there is one, but he didn't rule out bringing back Andy Pettitte on short rest for that game at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday. Pettitte earned the victory in Game 3 Saturday night, his 17th all-time in the playoffs, which is a major league record.

  "Our guys feel good at this time of year. We took it easy on them -- that's probably a bad way to state it," Girardi said.

  "We tried to give them some extra rest in the month of September, and they've had some extra rest during the playoffs that we thought was very important.

  "And as far as on three days' rest, it's not something that you would want to do a whole lot during the course of the year. CC has done it once this year; A.J. and Andy have not done it yet this year. A.J. has had a lot of success in his career going on short rest. CC was outstanding last year on short rest. He was very good against Anaheim.

  The key is how they feel. There's a lot of discussion, and we curb their workload, and the rest has helped, and that's why we're doing it."

  11/01 18:55:19 ET