Phil Hughes, who was placed on the disabled list in late April with a stress fracture in his right rib cage, is set to start tonight for Scranton, the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate.

According to Pro Sports Daily, Hughes is scheduled to throw approximately 60 pitches tonight, 80 pitches in his next game, and finally about 95 pitches in the next.

With Yankee star Joba Chamberlain recently placed on the 15-day DL and ace Chien-Ming Wang’s return a big question mark, it is very likely that Hughes will be called up to the bigs yet again to fill the gaping hole in the Bombers’ rotation.

Hughes is 0-4 this season with a 9.00 ERA, numbers that he, Yankees fans, and the front office didn’t expect to see.

Right now the Yankees are more upset than ever that they weren’t able to acquire Jarrod Washburn from the Seattle Mariners this trade deadline.  The Yankees desperately need help in their starting rotation and Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Dan Giese, at least based on their previous performances, aren’t exactly the names fans wanted to hear as possible replacements.

It’s even being said that the Yankees are tossing around the name Carl Pavano.  Yeah, remember him?  The guy who has a grand total of 5 wins in only 19 appearances since joining the Yankees in 2005.  What a great choice.  The Yankees are in the hunt to play in October and these are their best options? That’s just not going to cut it.

One can only hope that Pavano will not wear pinstripes again and the return of Hughes will prove to be a success.  Let’s just see if Hughes can make Brian Cashman look somewhat smart for refusing to trade him for Johan Santana.