updated 8:47 p.m. ET Oct. 1, 2006

NEW YORK - Chien-Ming Wang got the news from pitching coach Ron Guidry that he will start the New York Yankees’ playoff opener, and the young pitcher responded in his typically low-key manner.

“Gator told him and he sort of shrugged his shoulders: OK,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said. “I’m sure there will be some butterflies on Tuesday when they start introducing people, but this kid doesn’t let you know how he’s feeling.”

In announcing his rotation before Wednesday’s 16-5 rout of Baltimore, Torre said Mike Mussina will follow in Game 2 and that Randy Johnson, bothered by a bad back, will pitch Game 3, most likely on the road at Minnesota or Detroit. Torre didn’t say whether Jaret Wright or Cory Lidle would start Game 4, if it’s needed.

Johnson was scratched from his final regular-season start to give his back a chance to rest. The 43-year-old left-hander has been bothered by his back throughout the season, and it’s gotten worse recently.

“With the back situation, I want one good game out of him,” Torre said.

Wang is 19-6 with a 3.63 ERA, going 11-3 with a 3.03 ERA at Yankee Stadium. Given the Yankees’ high-priced, star-filled roster, it would have been a long shot in spring training to predict Wang would open the playoffs.

“Not when you have Randy and Moose here,” Torre said. “I don’t think he could ever dream of that.”

Mussina is 14-7 with a 3.57 ERA (8-2 with a 3.30 ERA at home) and Johnson is 17-11 with a 5.00 ERA (10-5 with a 5.01 ERA on the road).

Torre’s other big decisions will be whether to play Jason Giambi or Gary Sheffield at first base, and to choose between Hideki Matsui and Melky Cabrera in left field. The designated hitter is likely to come from among Giambi, Sheffield and Matsui.

“I told the players last night, I said basically: ‘We have a lot of talented people here, and I don’t know what the lineup’s going to be. Just understand that,”’ Torre said.

Giambi, bothered by a torn ligament in his left wrist, returned to the lineup as a designated hitter Wednesday and homered for the first time since Aug. 20.

Sheffield, coming back from wrist surgery on June 13, made his major league debut at first base on Friday night.

“Both guys have good hands. Sheff looks like he may have a little more range,” Torre said. “That’s going to be probably the toughest decision to make when you’re writing the lineup down.”

ALDS: Yankees vs. Indians Indians win series 3-1 Sizemore, Indians send Yankees packing Celizic: Plenty to blame in the Bronx End of an era for Torre?  |  A-Rod, too? Is Clemens done?  |  Limping into the sunset iPredict: Clemens to retire  |  Who wants him? Schedule, results, more

Matsui broke his left wrist May 11, returned as a designated hitter Sept. 12 and played his first game back in left field on Tuesday.

Torre is leaning toward emphasizing defense in left over hitting, which gives Cabrera an edge.

“Melky is better than Matsui, but Matsui certainly isn’t marginal. He knows how to play it, and he can go catch it and he gets great jumps on the ball,” Torre said. “Matty doesn’t scare me with any stretch of the imagination, but the other kid has a better arm and gets to more balls.”

With all his injured players back, Torre had a batting order Wednesday that began with center fielder Johnny Damon, shortstop Derek Jeter and right fielder Bobby Abreu, continued with third baseman Alex Rodriguez, Giambi and Sheffield, and finished with Matsui, catcher Jorge Posada and second baseman Robinson Cano — who is hitting .343.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Pain on the skating rink, flying high on the hardwood, upsets on the football field, and more. more photos

Bernie Williams was on the bench.

“In all honesty, I don’t know that there would be a better lineup than that in postseason play offensively. That doesn’t mean they can’t be beaten,” Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo said. “You pitch a little bit, you can beat anybody.”

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

MLB offseason no longer a time to rest   Opinion: Who needs Roy Halladay the most? CTB: Red Sox putting on press for Halladay   CTB: Andruw Jones a great pickup for White Sox Jamie Moyer of Philadelphia admitted to hospital Feds seek rehearing of baseball drug list ruling Complete list of free agents Circling the Bases: Blogging on news, rumors, buzz SCORES, SCHEDULES, STANDINGS, STATS Latest baseball videos   Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: