TORONTO – Carl Pavano, written off by New York Yankees' fans, will return and start for the team on Saturday at Baltimore.

The 32-year-old right-hander signed a $39.95 million, four-year contract with the Yankees before the 2005 season but injuries to his shoulder, back, buttocks, elbow and ribs have limited him to only 19 appearances for New York, just two since June 27, 2005. He is 5-6 for the Yankees.

On the disabled list all season following elbow ligament replacement surgery in June last year, Pavano has been dubbed “American Idle” by New York tabloids.

Pavano received the news from Yankees general manager Brian Cashman in a telephone call Thursday, according to the pitcher's agent, Thomas O'Connell. Pavano, who had been in Trenton, N.J., with the Yankees' Double-A team on a rehabilitation assignment, will meet up with the Yankees on Friday in Baltimore.

“Obviously, he's very excited to be back in the big leagues and to pitch for the club,” O'Connell said. “His plan and his focus was to make it back this year and, obviously, he worked extremely hard to put himself in this position.”

Pavano joins up a patched-together rotation that includes Sidney Ponson and Darrell Rasner along with Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte. The Yankees have several injured starters, a group that includes Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes.

New York's streak of consecutive playoff appearances is in danger of ending at 13. The Yankees began Thursday with 67-59 record, 10 games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East and 5½ games back of Boston in the AL wild-card race.