The New York Yankees are about to get some help in their starting rotation, and they will get it from within their own organization. A.J. Herrmann of YES Network.com reports that the Yankees will activate starting pitcher Ivan Nova Wednesday afternoon and start him against the Philadelphia Phillies that same day.

Nova is returning from Tommy John surgery that he had in April of 2014. While it is uncertain how long it will take for him to regain the form he had before his surgery, it is a lift to a Yankees rotation that ranks 12th in the American League in ERA at 4.42 as play begins on June 23. Only Masahiro Tanaka and Adam Warren have ERA's under 4.00 among all Yankee starters.

Nova scuffled to a 2-2 record and 8.27 ERA in four April starts last year, but two of his first three full seasons show that he can pitch when healthy. In 2011, he was 16-4 with a 3.70 ERA and 1.33 WHIP and finished fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. In 2013, he was 9-6 with a 3.10 ERA and 1.29 WHIP. Any semblance of that past performance in 2015 will greatly enhance the Yankees' chances to reclaim the lead in the American League East and make it to the postseason.

The Yankees enter play on June 23 with a record of 38-32 and sitting one game behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays. The two teams are tied in the loss column at 32.

In his three Minor League rehab starts, Nova was 1-1, 4.02 ERA, in 15 1/3 innings. Those numbers include two very good starts and one poor outing. He allowed two runs total in his first two starts and five in his third. The important thing, though, is getting back into Yankee pinstripes. 

Yankees manager Joe Girardi does not look too deeply into rehab statistics, saying that the experience is "just different" than when facing Major League hitters in games that count the most. Girardi also said, "We just feel he's ready to go." 

Girardi may use a six-man rotation throughout the Yankees' upcoming seven-game road trip from June 25 to July 1. This would allow Nova two starts by July 1 and each starter more rest between starts. The day off on July 2 then gives each starter an extra day of rest before the Yankees' next home stand should Girardi maintain this schedule.