Andy Pettitte, a 37-year-old southpaw who has helped the New York Yankees with four World Series titles, will start in game six of the Major League Baseball finals, manager Joe Girardi said on Tuesday.

The Yankees, seeking their 27th crown but their first since 2000, have a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven championship showdown with defending champions Philadelphia, who must win on Wednesday to force a seventh game on Thursday.

US veteran Pettitte will be pitching on three days of rest, one less than usual, as the Yankees try to become the first club since Minnesota in 1991 to win a World Series title using a rotation of only three starting pitchers.

Pedro Martinez, who faced Pettitte and the Yankees many times while with the Boston Red Sox, will take the mound for the Phillies in the must-win matchup. The 38-year-old Dominican right-hander went six innings in a game two loss.