Ivan Nova Starts a Crucial Year

Ivan Nova started last Wednesday's Yankees/Mets exhibition at Port Saint Lucie. And he was back on the mound last night against the Red Sox at "Fenway South." Making his third start of the spring, he turned in four effective innings, striking out four.
It's the final year before free agency for the onetime 16-game winner. Coming up on the second anniversary of his Tommy John Surgery, Nova looks to regain the form that made him look like a potential future ace. That could translate not only into another Yankee trip to the playoffs -- but a mega-payoff for the big righthander.

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