Phil Hughes

Phil Hughes pitched well against the Mariners on Saturday, giving up just one run on six hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Hughes fanned four and walked only one batter. With the win, he improves to 3-4 on the season and lowers his ERA to 5.60 while potentially also saving his spot in the starting rotation. The Yankees have to demote someone to clear room for the return of veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte.

Phil Hughes was quality in Sunday’s 10-4 win over the Royals, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk in 6 2/3 innings of work.

Hughes struck out seven in what was easily his best start of the young season. Both the strikeouts and innings pitched were his most in six outings, while the quality start was his first. One start is one start, but even with the Yankees rotation in disarray, Hughes was in desperate need of an outing like today’s. He’ll likely to get on a roll against the Mariners at home next weekend.

Andy Pettitte could take Phil Hughes’ spot in the Yankees’ rotation.

The Yanks haven’t decided whether it will be Hughes or David Phelps that loses their spot, but Pettitte and Hughes both pitch Sunday, so the team could make a seamless transition if that’s the route they decide to take. Hughes holds a 7.48 ERA over five starts and some in the organization feel he’s better suited for relief, a role he thrived in back in 2009.

Phil Hughes turned in an improved performance against the Orioles on Tuesday, giving up four runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings of work.

Hughes struck out six and walked one in the game, showing much improved command from his last few outings. He’s still giving up far too many home runs, as Chris Davis and J.J. Hardy took him deep in this one. He’s now 1-4 with a laughable 7.48 ERA on the season, but without any significant upgrades in the system, he’ll likely languish in the rotation for at least a few more starts. He should probably be avoided in all formats for his start against the Royals in Kansas City on Sunday.

Phil Hughes got roughed up by the Rangers in Texas on Wednesday, allowing four runs on five hits in just 2 2/3 innings of work.

He struck out two, walked none and served up a solo home run to Adrian Beltre. Hughes has now failed to complete five innings of work in three of his first four starts, and is sporting an ugly 7.88 ERA to go along with a 1.88 WHIP and 17/6 K/BB ratio. Michael Pineda’s season-ending injury has bought Hughes a little extra rope, but he needs to show rapid improvement if he wants to hold the Yankees’ fifth rotation spot over Freddy Garcia once Andy Pettitte enters the fold next month.

Phil Hughes pitched well on Thursday against the Twins, allowing just two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Hughes struggled mightily in his first two starts, but finally seemed to get things together in this one. He struck out four and walked two in the game, though he struggled with his command and needed 103 pitches to get through just 5 1/3 innings. He’ll look to carry over the momentum from this start when he takes on the Rangers in Texas next week.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi remains confident Phil Hughes can return to his pre-injury form.

“You don?t get too concerned yet. It’s still early in the season,?? Girardi said. “His arm strength is there. The same arm strength he had when he won those 18 games for us. It’s just a matter of making more consistent pitches.” Hughes is auditioning for a permanent spot in the Yankees’ rotation with Andy Pettitte and Michael Pineda expected back next month.

Phil Hughes was knocked around for six runs on eight hits over just 3 1/3 innings Saturday against the Angels.

Hughes struck out six, but the Angels had no problem squaring him up. Chris Iannetta connected for a two-run homer in the top of the second inning and Howie Kendrick chased him from the ballgame with a three-run blast in the fourth. Hughes is going to need to do better to hold off Andy Pettitte and/or Michael Pineda for a rotation spot. He has a good chance to rebound with a start against the Twins next week.

Phil Hughes allowed two runs on five hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings of Sunday’s 3-0 loss to the Rays.

Hughes labored most of the afternoon, requiring 99 pitches to record his 14 outs, and couldn’t escape the fifth after allowing Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria to reach base after he retired the first two hitters he faced. Hughes is worth rostering coming off a promising spring, but there’s no reason for his leash to be long in mixed leagues.