New York Yankees’ Ivan Nova dominates in first start since 2014

Ivan Nova (Kathy Willens, AP / AP)

New York Yankee starter Ivan Nova made his first start since April of 2014, and boy was he good. The Yankees starter was in cruise control all afternoon as he tossed 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball.

The Yankees had 15 hits on the afternoon but they were barely mentioned. Nova’s performance was thrilling to Yankees players, coaches and fans alike. The 28-year old right hander scattered just three hits and walked two while striking out one.

Nova, who in 31 1/3 minor-league rehab innings this season recorded 20 strikeouts against just six walks, topped his fastball out at 95 miles per hour. The right hander did not show signs of rust as he threw 92 pitches in the win.

Yankee manager Joe Girardi has told the media that the Yankees will go with a six-man pitching rotation for the time being, but will most likely be back to five when the Yankees go to Anaheim for a series with the Angels next week.

Yankees fans believe that the struggling C.C. Sabathia should be taken out of the rotation and used as a lefty specialist in the bullpen, but Girardi already said that Sabathia will remain in the rotation. The big lefty is 3-7 on the season with a 5.65 earned run average.

Sabathia has left the mound in the Bronx to showers of boos multiple times in 2015, including Tuesday night when he lasted just 4 2/3 innings giving up six runs on eight hits to the last place Philadelphia Phillies.

As it will not be Sabathia going to the pen, it appears that the only other option is right hander Adam Warren. Warren is 5-4 with a 3.62 earned run average in the rotation, and many believe he should stay there.

The bottom line is with Ivan Nova healthy, the Yankees have more depth in their pitching staff and another reliable starter to contribute.