Andy hints he’ll be back in 2013

BALTIMORE — It sounds very much like even if the Yankees lose this series, tonight will not be the last career start for Andy Pettitte.

Pettitte—who is scheduled to take the mound for tonight's ALDS Game 2 against the Orioles after the Yankees took control of the series with a 7-2 win last night — has been noncommittal about whether he plans to retire or return next year. But yesterday he delivered one of his strongest indicators yet he will be back in 2013.

"I know one thing: I know the competition and the desire to compete is still there, and I don't feel like I kind of got that itch out from the 70 innings or so that I threw this year," Pettitte said.

Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Andy Pettitte

"I was expecting to do a little bit more work than that. But we'll see. We'll see how this goes, and then I'll factor everything probably in."

Pettitte did say, as he has before, "it's going to be a situation where you, again, just need to go home, see if I want to do this again."

But the likely scenario is he will pitch again in 2013 — he turns 41 in June — and his competition comments further fuel those odds.

Tonight, Pettitte will be making his first playoff start since Oct. 18, 2010, when he surrendered two earned runs in seven innings in the ALCS and was outdueled by the Rangers' Cliff Lee.

Pettitte ranks as baseball's all-time leader in postseason wins (19) and starts (42).

Pettitte's career ERA in the postseason is 3.83. His career ERA in the regular season is 3.86.

"I think if you look at my numbers in the postseason, if you have enough opportunities, I think you are what you are," Pettitte said. "I feel like my numbers in the postseason are pretty similar what they are in my career."

Pettitte did not face the Orioles this season, though he is unbeaten in his past 10 starts versus the Birds going back to Sept. 19, 2007. In three starts since coming off the disabled list following a fractured left ankle, he surrendered just three runs in 16 2/3 innings.

"I'm ready to go," he said.

Coincidentally, Pettitte will be facing the manager — Buck Showalter — who handed him the ball for his first career postseason start in Game 2 of the 1995 ALDS versus Seattle. Pettitte allowed four runs in seven innings in the Yankees' 7-5 win.

"The heart that he has — you know, the heart and the makeup and the want — to and all that stuff is great," Showalter said. "This time of year talent plays. He is talented, and that's why he's still capable of giving his team a chance to win is that he's a talented young man."

mark.hale@nypost.com

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