Pettitte Set To Rejoin Yankees' Rotation Sunday

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte is set to rejoin the rotation on Sunday.

New York manager Joe Girardi announced the plan for Pettitte before Wednesday night's game against Tampa Bay. Pettitte has been sidelined since June 19 by a strained left groin.

With his return, Javier Vazquez will shift to a long relief role.

A.J. Burnett will start the opener of a three-game series at Baltimore on Friday. CC Sabathia will pitch on Saturday, which also lines up the 19-game winner to face Tampa Bay's 17-game winner David Price five days later in the final game of a four-game series with the Rays at Yankee Stadium.

Also, injured outfielders Nick Swisher (left knee) and Brett Gardner (right wrist) could return to the starting lineup this weekend.

The Yankees signed left-hander Royce Ring to a major league contract. The left-hander joined the team on Wednesday.

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