Unlike Yankees, Angels to use four-man rotation for ALCS

Earlier this week I speculated that the Angels would use four starting pitchers for the ALCS despite the drawn-out schedule making a three-man rotation possible, and after playing coy for a couple days manager Mike Scioscia announced this afternoon that he’ll indeed use John Lackey, Joe Saunders, Jered Weaver, and Scott Kazmir against the Yankees. Because the Angels’ rotation depth is one of their biggest strengths shortening up the rotation wouldn’t have benefited them nearly as much as it does the Yankees, who’ll give every ALCS start to the trio of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Andy Pettitte while avoiding starts from Chad Gaudin or perhaps Joba Chamberlain. In particular Sabathia will take the mound three times if the series lasts seven games, while fellow Game 1 starter John Lackey will pitch just twice. Given how things are lined up for the Angels, if the series goes to seven games Sabathia would likely face Weaver, whose first start of the series will come in Game 3 because Scioscia wants him to pitch at home, where he has a 2.90 ERA. Barring any further changes, here are the ALCS game-by-game matchups: Game 1: CC Sabathia vs. John Lackey Game 2: A.J. Burnett vs. Joe Saunders Game 3: Andy Pettite vs. Jered Weaver Game 4: CC Sabathia vs. Scott Kazmir Game 5: A.J. Burnett vs. John Lackey Game 6: Andy Pettite vs. Joe Saunders Game 7: CC Sabathia vs. Jered Weaver Right now the Yankees are around 1.75-to-1 favorites for the whole series.