It's Blanton, Not Lee, in Game 4 for Phils

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies manager Charlie Manuel Friday said he's decided to start Joe Blanton in Game 4, rather than J.A. Happ or Cliff Lee, who would have had to pitch on three days' rest.

Blanton gave up four runs, three earned, in six innings in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers. He was behind when he left, but the Phillies won that game on Jimmy Rollins' double in the bottom of the ninth against Jonathan Broxton. Blanton has a 4.66 ERA in three games this postseason. In his career, he is 2-0 with a 3.45 ERA in the playoffs.

"I think Blanton fits for us," Manuel said, "because I think we want to keep [J.A.] Happ right now in the bullpen, especially kind of in the middle where he could do some innings, and also Joe pitched last year in the World Series, and he's got a little bit more experience."There was some speculation that Manuel might bring back Lee because he's pitched so well this postseason, but Lee has never started a game on three days of rest in his career.

It is possible, however, that Lee would be available for relief in Game 7 after starting Game 5, since two days after a start is his normal "side" day.

"He's at 265 [innings, combined regular season and postseason] and he's never pitched on three days' rest," manager Charlie Manuel said.

"If it goes seven games or something, that would be on his bullpen day, and he might be able to pitch or whatever. But I like him [in Game 5] because I don't think he's ready for it on three days' rest. That's really pushing him because he's never did it before. If he had done it before like say CC [Sabathia] has, and CC pitched consistently last year on three days' rest. There's a big difference, plus CC is big, and I think that plays a part in it.

"But Cliff has never did it, and I think you're taking a chance on really pushing him, and I think that he's the kind of guy that he gets into the game, and with his adrenaline going and everything, and definitely we don't want to hurt him. But at the same time we want him to stay strong when he does pitch."

Lee threw 122 pitches in Game 1, going the distance and allowing one unearned run while striking out 10 and walking none.

"It's a good thing Cliff Lee can't pitch every day," Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira said.

Lee said he had no objection to being held back until Game 5: "I pitch when they want me to pitch."

The selection of Blanton also sets up a potentially interesting matchup with Chad Gaudin, his good friend from Oakland. The Yankees still have not decided whether to bring back CC Sabathia on short rest to start Game 4, manager Joe Girardi said. Both Sabathia and Gaudin have been preparing to start on Sunday.

Gaudin said the 75-pitch simulated game he threw on Tuesday helped him shake off some of the rust. He has pitched only one inning this postseason. This particular assignment, if he gets it, would be fun for him because Blanton is one of his best friends in baseball. The two were teammates in Oakland from 2006 to 2008. Both were traded away within a couple weeks of each other in July 2008.

"Yeah, it's a pretty good story," Blanton said. "It's good to see your friends get to the World Series."

If it happens, it would be the second buddy-buddy matchup of the Series, with former Indians teammates Lee and Sabathia meeting in Game 1.