Chamberlain finally gets starting nod

Joba Chamberlain received his long-awaited promotion, and the rookie righthander will make his first start for the Yankees at home in the Bronx. Manager Joe Girardi yesterday said the 22-year-old will take the mound at Yankee Stadium Tuesday night against Toronto and be limited to 65 or 70 pitches. After posting a 0.38 ERA in 19 appearances last season, Chamberlain had a 2.28 ERA in 20 games out of the bullpen this year. "I feel great. Everything is going well," Chamberlain said . . . Pedro Martínez rejoined the Mets and is scheduled for his second start of the year Tuesday against San Francisco. He has been on the disabled list since straining his left hamstring April 1.

The Atlanta Braves put outfielder Mark Kotsay on the 15-day DL with a strained lower back, but could have righthander John Smoltz back in the bullpen next week, maybe Monday. Smoltz (right biceps, shoulder tendinitis) pitched two innings at Single A Rome Thursday, giving up one hit and striking out three. "He felt good," manager Bobby Cox said. . . . Texas Ranger third baseman Hank Blalock had surgery on his right wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome) and will be sidelined at least another month.

Doug Collins's second tenure as Chicago Bulls coach may be coming, but there was no announcement last night. The Bulls and Collins, who coached a young Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen before the 1990s dynasty took off, have acknowledged discussing a return. The sides said there would be more talks once Collins's obligations with TNT ended, which happened when the Lakers eliminated the Spurs in the Western Conference finals Thursday . . . Authorities are investigating whether former Southern California star O.J. Mayo received benefits paid for by a sickle-cell charity. The California Attorney General's Office is looking into whether "any funds or credit cards were taken or used under the foundation's name and used for other purposes," special agent Danny Kim told the Los Angeles Times . . . In the WNBA, Tamika Whitmore scored 18 points as the host Connecticut Sun (4-1) held off the New York Liberty, 89-84; Lauren Jackson scored 28 points as the host Seattle Storm (4-1) cruised to a 78-57 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars; and Nicole Powell's 16 points led the host Sacramento Monarchs past the Houston Comets, 73-66.

Luc Bourdon received his motorcycle license two weeks before his bike veered head-on into a truck on a winding, two-lane road, instantly killing the 21-year-old Vancouver Canucks rookie defenseman. Investigators said Bourdon's inexperience on a motorcycle may have played a role in his death Thursday in Shippagan, New Brunswick. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said a moment of silence will be observed tonight before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals . . . A report published in the Toronto Star Thursday suggested Barry Melrose is in line to coach the Tampa Bay Lightning. Yesterday, he brushed that rumor aside on ESPN.com. "I want to coach again in the NHL," he said. "But nothing's going on."

Already convinced Big Brown will be the first Triple Crown champion in three decades, Rick Dutrow Jr. is predicting when it will be safe to start celebrating at the Belmont Stakes. "I have to think if he ever gets the lead in the Belmont, the race is going to be over," the trainer said. "I can't see any horse coming up and catching him." . . . FC Dallas defender Adrian Serioux's foul against Los Angeles's David Beckham May 18 drew a $1,000 fine from Major League Soccer because of comments he made. "MLS will not tolerate words or actions . . . that improperly target any player for physical aggression," commissioner Don Garber said. "I could have broken my leg," Beckham said. "[Serioux] was saying, 'Welcome, baby, welcome,' afterward." . . . Boxer "Sugar" Shane Mosley's former trainer, Derryl Hudson, and BALCO founder Victor Conte claimed in court papers filed in San Francisco they watched Mosley inject the endurance-boosting drug EPO in the weeks before a title bout with Oscar De La Hoya, won by Mosley . . . Despite dissatisfaction with his contract, which expires in 2011, linebacker Brian Urlacher showed up for the Chicago Bears' mandatory minicamp . . . Turning a lap of 155.219 miles per hour, Greg Biffle took the pole for tomorrow's Best Buy 400 at Dover (Del.).