Joe Blanton to start Game 4

For the second straight year Joe Blanton will start Game 4 of the World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Manager Charlie Manuel made the decision Friday, choosing to go with Blanton over Game 1 winner Cliff Lee. The AP reports that Lee is scheduled to pitch Game 5 on full rest.

If Lee had pitched Game 4, he would have been pitching on 3 days rest for the first time in his career.

"I think you're taking a chance on really pushing him," Manuel said in a press conference Friday. "Definitely we don't want to hurt him."

In his start last year, Blanton led the Phillies to a 10-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Blanton also homered in the game, the first home run in a World Series game by a pitcher since 1974.

Manuel did say that if the series goes to a game 7 that Lee may be available to throw on short rest.

Yankees' ace C.C. Sabathia will start Sunday's game on 3 days rest, something Sabathia did frequently for the Brewers last season. C.C. has said earlier in the playoffs that he has no problem going on short rest.