Francisco Cervelli is the catcher tonight when A.J. Burnett starts for the Yankees against the Rangers in Game 4 of the ALCS at the Stadium.

Cervelli caught Burnett’s last 11 starts during the regular season. The right-hander did not pitch in the Yankees’ ALDS sweep of the Twins.

Lance Berkman is the DH, leaving Jorge Posada out of the starting lineup.

Cervelli is making his first postseason start.

During the season, Burnett pitched 186 2/3 innings, and his best results overall were with Cervelli, who caught 129 1/3 of the innings as Burnett posted a 4.66 ERA. Posada caught 38 1/3 innings with Burnett, during which the righty posted a 7.28 ERA.

Burnett’s other 19 innings were with Chad Moeller, who worked with him to a 5.21 ERA. Moeller is not on the ALCS roster.

If you combine Burnett’s 2009 and 2010 performances with Posada catching him, Burnett has a dizzying 5.61 ERA in 136 1/3 innings.

The Yankees lose something offensively with the switch. Cervelli hit .271 without a home run in 93 games this season. Posada batted .248 with 18 homers in 120 games.

With Mark Hale