Yankees remove Ivan Nova from rotation Right-hander Ivan Nova has been dropped from the New York Yankees rotation after two poor outings, and right-hander David Phelps will replace him as Tuesday night's starter against the Boston Red Sox. After sitting out 3 1/2 weeks because of inflammation in his right rotator cuff, Nova beat Tampa Bay in his return Sept. Since then he is 0-1 with a 9.00 earned-run average in two starts, giving up 11 hits and four walks in seven innings. I'm sure he's disappointed. But that's OK, too. This is a game where you have to be productive on a consistent basis," Manager Joe Girardi said Monday. We still have him in our plans, but right now he's just struggling a little bit. Nova is 12-8 this season, down from 16-4 last year. Orioles' Nick Markakis to be out a bit longer Baltimore Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis has had his broken left thumb examined and it was determined that surgically inserted pins will remain in place for another week, Manager Buck Showalter said. Markakis' thumb will be in a splint for two weeks after the pins are removed. Markakis left a game Sept 8 after being hit by a pitch from Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia. He is batting .298. Also, Jason Hammel, who left his start Sept. 11 because of a sore right knee, threw five innings Monday in the Florida instructional league. Showalter said that depending on how the right-hander feels Tuesday, he could be ready to pitch for the Orioles by late this week.