Ace In the Hole

The Yankees have announced that Alfredo Aceves (5-1 2.03 ERA) will be the first pitcher to get a crack at Chien-Ming Wang's (1-6 9.64 ERA) spot in the rotation. Wang, on the 15-day DL with a strained shoulder was scheduled to start this Thursday's series finale in Minnesota. His injury opens up a spot for Aceves, who has arguably been the Yankees most consistent reliever this season.

The Yankees bullpen has been very solid lately, so their was some speculation that the Yanks would call up a starter from AAA. The feeling was to not remove Aceves, or former starter turned reliever Phil Hughes (3-2 4.20 ERA) from the bullpen because of their success at the back end of games. But Ace will get the first opportunity to show Joe Girardi what made him a successful starter in the Mexican league and in the Yankees farm system before he was called up last year.