Angels set ALCS pitching rotation

Angels manager Mike Scioscia has picked right-hander John Lackey to start Friday night's Game 1 of the AL championship series against CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees.

Lackey pitched 7 1/3 innings to lead Los Angeles to a 5-0 win over the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the division series. He is 3-3 with a 3.02 ERA in 12 career post-season games, including 10 starts.

"It's a fun atmosphere, for sure," Lackey said. "It's the same as the last round. It helps to win the first game, but the importance is probably a little bit less in a seven-game series, especially being on the road. It'll be a challenge the whole series. They're a great team."

Lackey was 11-8 with a 3.83 ERA after missing the first 33 games because of a forearm strain. He got Los Angeles off to a great start in the first round of the playoffs, allowing just four singles against Boston.

"When John is on that mound, he competes as well as anybody I've seen," Scioscia said of the eight-year veteran, who won Game 7 of the 2002 World Series as a rookie.

Scioscia announced his rotation Wednesday at Angel Stadium following a morning working that preceded the team's flight to New York.

Left-hander Joe Saunders will start Game 2 against A.J. Burnett on Saturday at Yankee Stadium. Jered Weaver will pitch Game 3 against Andy Pettitte and Scott Kazmir will start Game 4 in Anaheim, most likely against Sabathia.

"There's a lot of things that went into it, but I don't think it was a tough decision. We just wanted to evaluate a couple of things," Scioscia said. "I think it makes sense for Joe to pitch Game 2 in that ballpark. Joe has the tools to pitch in that stadium. Joe's had a terrific year for us and we're confident when he's out there pitching."

New York manager Joe Girardi announced Tuesday he was leaning toward a three-man rotation, and weather could be a factor in his decision.

"I'm hearing a lot of rain. We may face Sabathia seven times," Scioscia joked. "We might play just one game a week. I don't know."