PHILADELPHIA --- Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has become a two-inning postseason pitcher.

He threw two scoreless innings in New York's Game 2 World Series win on Thursday, and went at least that long twice in the ALCS against the Angels.

Rivera, who saved 44 games this season, had already pitched 12w innings this postseason heading into Game 3 against Philadelphia on Saturday night.

Rivera pitched two innings in a game only once this season, May 16 against Minnesota.

He shrugged off the idea that he was being overworked and volunteered that he could have pitched Friday if there was a game.

"We're talking about the World Series," Rivera said. "It's not time to rest. It's not time to feel bad or injured or something like that. If you can throw, I think that you can go out there and do your best."

Rivera has served as his own set up man because the conversion of Phil Hughes from starter to bridge to the closer took a hit in the postseason.

Hughes is 0-1 with a 9.65 ERA in seven appearances.

SLUGGERS HELD IN CHECK: Ryan Howard . Alex Rodriguez . Chase Utley . Derek Jeter . Both World Series lineups are about as loaded as they get in baseball, but the first two games have been anything but a slugfest.

Philadelphia starters Cliff Lee and Pedro Martinez , and New York's CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnet t have all been outstanding in neutralizing the lineups and giving the early edge in this series to the pitchers.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said before Game 3 he was surprised how much the rotation has decided the first two games. He expected the big boppers to win some games -- and they still have plenty of chances to decide the series.

"I felt like whoever won the Series, I felt that team was going to kind of hit a lot and score a lot of runs," Manuel said. "The pitching has been what you call World Series, or playoff, pitching, because they get ahead of the hitters and they put the ball exactly where they've been wanting it."

SWISHER BACK IN LINEUP: Slumping Nick Swisher was in the starting lineup and in right field for the Yankees for Game 3.

Swisher was replaced in Game 2 by Jerry Hairston Jr. , a move that paid off when Hairston started a seventh-inning rally in a 3-1 win. Hairston was a .370 career hitter against Martinez.

Manager Joe Girardi said it was an easy decision to start Swisher.

"Swish has been our right fielder all year long," Girardi said.

Swisher had never faced Game 3 starter Cole Hamels . He was batting .114 in the postseason (4 for 35).

Back in an NL park, the Yanks sat designated hitter Hideki Matsui , who hasn't played the outfield since June 15, 2008, at Houston. He appeared in right field only three times that year, all in April.

Matsui hit a go-ahead homer off Martinez in Game 2.

DOBBS HEALTHY AGAIN: Phillies utility man Greg Dobbs returned from a bout with the flu and was available to pinch hit in Game 3.

Dobbs returned to Philadelphia before Game 2 because of the illness and lost out on a possible chance to serve as the designated hitter against Burnett.

Dobbs is 0 for 4 in the postseason.

The infielder/outfielder hit .247 with five homers and 20 RBI in 154 at-bats this season.

"If we could use him, he'll be available," Manuel said.

Manuel said several Phillies are fighting flu symptoms.

TRICK OR REPEAT?: The Phillies had already won the World Series at this point last season and spent Oct. 31 celebrating with a championship parade through downtown Philadelphia.

It was the city's first major sports championship in 25 years.

Fans spent this Halloween at the ballpark dressed for the occasion.

One group of fans wore goblin masks with their Yankees hats. One Phillies fan held a sign that read, "Who needs ghosts? We've got bats." Another said, "Trick or treat, let's repeat."