"For all the tumult that has engulfed the Yankees' rotation during Andy Pettitte's absence, it will probably not look much different when he returns.

For one thing, Javier Vazquez will be back. And A. J. Burnett's spot is safe, regardless of how he pitched Wednesday night against Oakland. Manager Joe Girardi announced these moves about 30 minutes before Pettitte continued making progress in his recovery from a left groin injury, throwing 55 pitches at a high intensity.

Every conversation Pettitte has with the pitching coach Dave Eiland or the trainer Gene Monahan seems to end in the same way - "Let's see how you feel tomorrow" - so plans for his next session are still tentative. But Pettitte said that he pushed off without discomfort Wednesday, and that he hoped next to face hitters in a simulated environment."