Andy Pettitte threw 55 pitches in what he hopes will be his final simulated game today, and now his fate largely rests with Yankees team doctor Chris Ahmad, who will examine the 40-year-old left-hander after the team returns home from Boston on Friday to determine if he is ready to return to full game action. Pettitte last pitched on June 27, when he suffered a broken left ankle on a comebacker in the fifth inning of a game against the Indians.

"If the doctor feels it's completely healed, then there will be a decision we'll have to make," Girardi said. "Andy has to be what we all feel is ready. You can't throw a guy out there that's not ready. That's not fair to him and it's not fair to us."

Pettitte, for his part, feels he is ready to give the Yankees "a good 60-65 hard pitches" if he were slotted into the rotation five days from now. "I think that when he goes out there, it might have to be enough if we decide that he's ready," Girardi said. "Today he threw in the 50s. You can add 15-20 to that and I think he's going to be fine.