I wouldn't be so sure, AJ could certainly lose this spot if he doesn't improve in the near future.
"There are no locks," Girardi said Sunday of Burnett. "You've got to pitch. You've got to perform. It's been a game that's based on performance. You've got to perform."
General manager Brian Cashman was a bit more blunt in his assessment: "We have six guys who can pitch in a pennant race, period. A.J Burnett is having his typical terrible August. For whatever reason, he can't pitch in August, I don't know why. It is what it is. August is obviously not an effective month for him."