The Yankees want to keep it that way. That's why they're starting him on seven days' rest the next time he takes the hill.
In an effort to limit the 23-year-old's first full season as a starting pitcher, New York will be extending Chamberlain's rest before his next start. He entered this season with 124 1/3 major league innings; his 2009 innings count will match that total with eight more outs.
"We're just trying to be smart about it," manager Joe Girardi told ESPN.com. "We're not trying to overwork him his first time in a rotation for the whole year. There are instances where players have thrown 200 innings that weren't accustomed to that and have had struggles after. There's a history that has been studied by our people and this is what we feel is best."
Chamberlain will take the mound next Wednesday against Oakland. Chad Gaudin, who pitched two scoreless innings of relief on Wednesday, is expected to start on Sunday against Seattle.
The young hurler is 8-2 in 2009 with a 3.85 ERA, and in his last five starts, he is 4-0 with a 2.76 ERA. He struggled slightly against Boston last Thursday, surrendering six runs in five innings, and against Toronto on Tuesday, going six innings and allowing four runs. Girardi, however, insists that his recent struggles aren't the reason for affording him some extra rest.
While he'd doubtlessly prefer a set schedule, Chamberlain understands that the team is doing what is best for him.
"As a competitor, you want to be out there with your teammates all the time fighting and clawing," he told ESPN.com, "but I also understand I want to do this for a long time and not just a couple years. So you have to keep that perspective. I've learned to become patient over the last couple years being here."
