There may be a simpler solution, though: putting the forgotten Ronnie Brewer back in the rotation.
Jon Niese, Shaun Marcum, Dillon Gee and Matt Harvey also figure to be in the rotation.
Jason Simontacchi won his first three relief appearances in 2003 after beginning his career in the rotation.
Houston had an open spot in the rotation after demoting Brad Peacock to the bullpen this week.
Collins' other option Sunday was to skip Niese's spot in the rotation and have Matt Harvey remain on schedule.
Ivan Nova (12-8, 5.02) and David Phelps (4-4, 3.34) also will be in the rotation when the season starts.
Pettitte is expected to make his next start Friday at Toronto after his turn in the rotation was pushed back.
The fifth spot in the rotation will likely be filled by A.J.
Hefner will take Santana's place in the rotation, and Marcum is scheduled to start the sixth game of the season against Miami.
"Three left-handers in the rotation, I like that a lot, " Hurdle said.
Before Sunday's game, manager Joe Girardi informed Garcia he was being dumped to the bullpen and replaced by rookie David Phelps in the rotation.
Even the much-maligned Freddy Garcia, who lost his spot in the rotation after a horrid April, went 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA since June 25.
The coaches on the Big 12's spring teleconference were already talking about the Cotton Bowl having a spot in the rotation as if it was a done deal.
Marcum received a cortisone shot in his shoulder Tuesday because of what he called tightness, and he said he expects to miss just one turn in the rotation.
Garcia will likely remain in the rotation until Pettitte returns.
He missed a start March 21 because of a shoulder impingement and missed another turn in the rotation this week after experiencing neck pain during a bullpen session Monday.
Hughes is expected to miss his first turn through the rotation, which means that fifth starter candidates Ivan Nova and David Phelps are both likely to begin the season in the rotation.
Cano drove in two runs to help the Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins 9-7 on Friday despite a rough start for Nova, who's in contention for the fifth slot in the rotation.
The 35-year-old right-hander, who missed his previous turn in the rotation because of stiffness in his lower back, has yet to go more than six innings in any of his six starts with the Mariners.
Yankees right-hander Hiroki Kuroda is expected to take his next turn in the rotation Monday at Cleveland after bruising the middle finger on his throwing hand when hit by a Shane Victorino line drive Wednesday.
Sluggers Matt Holliday, Allen Craig and Carlos Beltran remain a part of a dangerous lineup, and bright young arms Trevor Rosenthal, Shelby Miller and Joe Kelly could have an impact in the rotation and bullpen.
Yankees RHP Hiroki Kuroda is expected to take his next turn in the rotation Monday at Cleveland after bruising the middle finger on his pitching hand when it was hit by Shane Victorino's line drive Wednesday night.
He went to spring training this year with the Marlins but got reassigned to minor league camp March 13 and was ticketed for Double-A Jacksonville before injuries to Henderson Alvarez and Nathan Eovaldi left two holes in the rotation.
This means that we have some vessels that have been diverted in order to protect the onwards schedule, others have swapped the calls in the rotation and again others have been slowed down in order to match quay availability in New York.
FORBES: Ships Idle Offshore With East Coast's Biggest Port Knocked Out
On the pitching side, fourth starter Hughes is likely to miss the first days of spring, meaning David Phelps and Ivan Nova should slide into the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation, postponing their battle over the final rotation spot, for the time being.
The pitcher will be competing for the final spot in the starting rotation.
No need to keep operators up half the night in Britain when the rotation of the earth provides a wide-awake American alternative.
Gee went 6-7 with a 4.10 ERA in 17 starts last season and is being counted on to be a mainstay in the starting rotation this season.
The Yankees signed free agent Hiroki Kuroda and traded for Mariners starter Michael Pineda, who are expected to join CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova in the starting rotation.
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