ARLINGTON -- Ian Kennedy never had the velocity of Joba Chamberlain, nor the reputation of Phil Hughes. Though he always found himself lumped with those two in discussions regarding the resurgent Yankees farm system, rarely did Kennedy garner quite the same respect.

Now he's the only one of those three still standing. Chamberlain is out indefinitely with right rotator cuff tendinitis, and Hughes is rehabbing in the Minors with a stress fracture in his right rib cage. But come Friday, Kennedy will be back in pinstripes, back with the Yankees and perhaps ready to stick.

"He's got more innings under his belt, which I think is a good thing," manager Joe Girardi said. "He's had success, which is a good thing, in Triple-A coming off success. So I think that confidence level can carry over into your next start -- which is here for us."

That aforementioned Minor League success came at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where Kennedy posted a 3-0 record and 1.33 ERA over his final four starts. And although the fact remains that Kennedy struggled in nearly every one of his eight starts with the Yankees this season, the fact also remains that he's 23 years old and still a fine prospect.

Which is why the Yankees are counting on him in the first game of a critical series in Anaheim.

"For Ian, we're just looking for him to compete," Girardi said. "That's all. Just compete. Give us an opportunity to win the game."

Winning is critical because the Yankees will be playing the Angels, the best team in the Majors by no small margin. To cease treading water and turn this 10-game road trip into a success, the Yankees will need to take at least two out of three from the Halos. And should Kennedy win, he would provide a significant boost in that direction.

Kennedy's main problem earlier this season, which he did not have in three successful starts last September, was an inability to locate his pitches. Because Kennedy does not boast plus velocity, he must rely on location and guile -- and he was missing at least one of those things in April and May.

"I just think his location was a little off," Girardi said. "There's a fine line between living on the edge and nibbling. When they're balls, you're nibbling, and when they're strikes, you've got great control. It's the fine line that a lot of pitchers walk in this game."

Pitching matchup
NYY: RHP Ian Kennedy (0-3, 7.41 ERA)
With Chamberlain on the disabled list, the Yankees will add Kennedy to their starting rotation in time for Friday's start. Kennedy, who was winless in nine appearances (eight starts) this year before being placed on the DL with a strained right lat muscle, went 4-2 with a 2.14 ERA in nine games (eight starts) at Triple-A, allowing 29 hits in 46 1/3 innings.

LAA: RHP Jered Weaver (9-9, 4.37 ERA)
The strapping right-hander had a strange performance at Yankee Stadium on Saturday. After striking out the first four men he faced, a two-out, two-run homer by Wilson Betemit in the second inning seemed to unravel him. By the time he departed after facing two batters into the sixth inning, Weaver had yielded three more homers and six runs on eight hits. The problem was location, not stuff. Perhaps an extra day of rest will help, as he gets a rematch with the Yankees at home. He's 2-1 with a 5.63 ERA in three career starts against the Bronx Bombers.

Tidbits
Hughes allowed one run in 4 2/3 innings for Triple-A, throwing 68 pitches on Thursday. The Yankees maintain that they expect Hughes back by September. ... Carl Pavano pitched 3 2/3 shutout innings for Double-A Trenton on Thursday. ... Rather than rest in New York, Chamberlain will travel to Tampa, Fla., for a program of non-throwing exercise and treatment on his right shoulder. "They felt it was better for him to be around trainers," Girardi said. ... Girardi denied a New York Daily News report that Andy Pettitte would miss his next start with stiffness in his left arm, calling it "news to me." ... Hideki Matsui began a running program on Thursday in Tampa. ... Third-base coach Bobby Meacham missed Thursday's game to attend his daughter's wedding, and he will also be absent on Friday. First-base coach Tony Pena filled in at third base, and batting-practice pitcher Mitch Seoane took over at first.

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Up next
• Saturday: Yankees (Dan Giese, 1-3, 2.51) at Angels (John Lackey, 9-2, 3.10), 3:55 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Yankees (Andy Pettitte, 12-9, 4.34) at Angels (Joe Saunders, 14-5, 3.03), 3:35 p.m. ET
• Monday: Yankees (Sidney Ponson, 7-2, 4.23) at Twins (Glen Perkins, 8-3, 4.38), 8:10 p.m. ET