Phil Hughes Makes His Return Tonight

So Phil Hughes is finally pitching in the big leagues again.  Getting a spot start tonight, Hughes will take Bartolo Colon's start against the Cleveland Indians, making his first start in the bigs since mid-April.
Hughes was summoned to the DL after only three starts this season with a "dead arm."  It's hard to actually believe that diagnosis considering that even 40-year old pitchers don't get a dead arm three weeks into the baseball season.  But, his numbers don't lie with the dead arm scenario, sporting an 0-1 record with a 13.94 ERA.

Phil Hughes makes his return to the rotation tonight against the Indians

Hughes was supposed to be a major cornerstone in the Yankees' rotation this season, along with CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, but failed to deliver.  He came off a spectacular breakout season in 2010 with an 18-8 record, but a fairly high ERA at 4.14.  But, when it was known that Andy Pettitte made it clear that he was staying retired and the Yankees failed to lure Cliff Lee to New York, the Yankees knew that Hughes had to be the guy.  But, that plan never panned out.  What did, however, was the free-agent signings of Colon and Freddy Garcia who have both pitched outstandingly and are a major reason why the Yankees have a lead over the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.

The newly revamped Bartolo Colon has been a huge asset to the Yankees success this season

But, what may prove interesting after tonight is who Phil Hughes will replace in the starting rotation pending he has a good start.  Sabathia and Colon are easily the two best pitchers in that rotation right now, so no dice there.  Ivan Nova has won four straight starts and Garcia is pitching like his days in Seattle and Chicago.  And Burnett is off and on, but has had a couple starts where he has pitched well, but didn't get the decision he would have liked.  I think the best solution would be to put Hughes in the bullpen as 7th inning man, or maybe even have him be used as a long relief pitcher.

Freddy Garcia is pitching like he's back in Seattle

Either way, as a Yankees fan, I'm just hoping he can get through tonight.

*Images courtesy of Google Images*