PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania – C.C. Sabathia, who shared the Major League Baseball season lead with 19 victories, will pitch for the New York Yankees in game four of the World Series, Yankee manager Joe Girardi said.

The 29-year-old southpaw will pitch against defending champion Philadelphia on Sunday on short rest after being the Yankees starter and loser in the first game of the best-of-seven championship final last Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

The move would allow Girardi to use Sabathia in a potential seventh game next Thursday in another short-rest situation.

"We feel physically, if that's what we decide to do, he can handle it," Girardi said.

Girardi also said he will consider using game two winner A.J. Burnett and Saturday's game-three pitcher, four-time World Series champion Andy Pettitte, on short rest in games five and six if needed.

"This is the World Series. After this, there will be plenty of time to rest. They physically feel good," Girardi said.

"It's not something you want to do a lot over a long season but we're not in a long season."

The Phillies will pitch Joe Blanton, 12-8 with a 4.05 earned-run average, in game four Sunday with Cliff Lee, the ace southpaw who baffled the Yankees to win the opener last Wednesday, starting in game five on Friday.