BALTIMORE – After watching Joba Chamberlain throw 35 pitches in a bullpen yesterday, Joe Girardi believes Chamberlain will pitch for the Yankees this season even though he didn’t know if it will be as a starter or reliever.

“I am not worried about Joba. He will pitch for us in the big leagues,” Girardi said of the prized right-hander who has been out since Aug. 4 with rotator cuff tendinitis. “I don’t have concerns. We all have tendinitis. I don’t have any doubt he will pitch this year.”

Rotation or relief?

“We envision him as a starter but we will see how the rehab goes and how much time we have left,” Girardi said. “We are taking it a day at a time with Joba. You can’t rush it.”

Chamberlain, who will throw a longer bullpen tomorrow, doesn’t have a preference as long as he pitches.

“We are being creative here, I am open to anything at this point,” said Chamberlain, who made 12 starts after opening the season in the bullpen and making 20 relief appearances. “I want to get into big-league games, peace of mind you could say.”

Limited to fastballs and change-ups yesterday, Chamberlain will mix in sliders and curveballs tomorrow.

“Everything felt good,” Chamberlain said of yesterday’s workout. “I cut a couple loose and nothing tightened up.”