Clemens likely to start for Yankees on Monday

TORONTO -- Roger Clemens is ready to return to the New York Yankees' rotation and likely will start at the Chicago White Sox next Monday.

Clemens pitched six shutout innings for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday. Yankees manager Joe Torre said before Tuesday's game against Toronto that he'll stay with Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte as his starters for this weekend's series at AL East-leading Boston.

"I'm not disappointed that he's not pitching at Fenway," Torre said. "I don't think that series needs any more hype than it gets every time we play it, whether it's in Fenway or at the Stadium. You'd obviously be tempted if you had a kid pitching and you can replace him with Roger Clemens. When you have Wang, Moose and Andy, there's really not the temptation to do that."

Torre wasn't ready to finalize his decision.

"Until I talk to him personally, it's tough to pick a particular day," he said.

If Clemens is put on the major league roster Monday, he'd receive $18,207,665 this season, a prorated share of his $28,000,022 salary.

The 44-year-old struck out six and gave up two hits and two walks in Monday's start, showing improved command from his last outing at Class-AA Trenton.