NEW YORK - Roger Clemens is set to start Game 3 for the New York Yankees against Cleveland after throwing 69 pitches in a four-inning simulated game Tuesday at the team’s complex in Tampa, Fla.

Clemens, who has not pitched since Sept. 16 because of a hamstring injury, faced 18 batters, then took grounders on the mound, fielded bunts and also practiced covering first base.

“It was a very good report,” manager Joe Torre said after speaking with Yankees vice president Billy Connors, who attended the session. “Everything got high marks.”

Clemens was to rejoin the Yankees on Wednesday in Cleveland, a day before their playoff opener.

Ian Kennedy, who will miss the division series with a back strain, played catch for 20 minutes and was scheduled for a bullpen session Wednesday. Joba Chamberlain and other young Yankees hope to attend Kennedy’s wedding on Saturday in suburban St. Louis.

Hideki Matsui said his right knee felt much better, two days after it was drained of fluid to reduce inflammation. Torre plans to start Johnny Damon in left field and use Matsui or righty-hitting Shelley Duncan as the DH against left-hander C.C. Sabathia in the opener. The lefty-hitting Matsui is 0-for-9 against Sabathia.

Duncan, a son of former St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan, recalled going to his first World Series game — when Kirk Gibson hit that famous home run for the Los Angeles Dodgers against Oakland in 1988.

Baseball playoffs Recapping the World Series A look back at Red Sox vs. Rockies

With sinkerballer Chien-Ming Wang starting the opener, Doug Mientkiewicz will likely start at first base over Jason Giambi. Mientkiewicz, a far better defensive first baseman, could start the majority of postseason games for New York.

“Jason I think right now is considered more of a DH guy who could play first base,” Torre said. “Right now I’m leaning toward Doug.”

Feelin' Fine
Angels right fielder Vladimir Guerrero, nursing a bruised forearm, will be the designated hitter for Game 1 on Wednesday against Boston.

“Right now, Vlad Guerrero is throwing the ball much better than he has in the last 10 days or so,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “I think he will become an option for right field at some point this series, but he will DH.”

Guerrero was hit by a pitch in a Sept. 26 loss to Texas. He played in just one of the Angels’ last three games, going 2-for-2 with a homer against Oakland on Friday.

In all, Guerrero hit .324 with 27 homers and 125 RBIs for the Angels.

Not Us
Jim Bunning is ready to veto the idea that his 1964 Phillies had the biggest collapse of all time. His new vote is for the 2007 Mets.

Slideshow   The Week in Sports Pictures The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more. more photos

“You know what that did to me? That took me off about a 45-year hook that I was stuck on from 1964 to 2007,” the U.S. Senator from Kentucky said Tuesday. “The Mets’ collapse outdid the Phillies’ in ’64.”

The Phillies held a 6½-game lead with 12 to play in 1964, only to blow the NL pennant by losing 10 straight.

The Mets became the first major league team that failed to finish in first place after owning a lead of seven games or more with 17 remaining.

“I’m sorry for the Mets, because they will never forget it,” Bunning said. “No matter how many times they say, ’Well, let’s go on with next year,’ you can’t believe that you blew seven games with 17 to go. It’s hard to imagine.”

Bring Him Back
Cubs manager Lou Piniella plans to start ace Carlos Zambrano on three days’ rest if their series against Arizona goes four games.

“If anybody can pitch on three days’ rest in our rotation, Carlos can,” Piniella said before his team worked out Tuesday at Chase Field.

Zambrano will start the opener Wednesday night. Ted Lilly will pitch Game 2 on Thursday night, followed by Rich Hill in Game 3 on Saturday at Wrigley Field.

Pitching Zambrano on short rest would allow Lilly to pitch on his regular rest if the series goes to a fifth game, Piniella said.

Zambrano pitched on three days’ rest once this year. He took the loss on Sept. 18 against Cincinnati, allowing four runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings.