NEW YORK -- George Steinbrenner will get his wish -- for at least one game.

Jose Contreras will make his first major league start Friday in Detroit after the Boss told a newspaper he wanted the Cuban defector to take Jeff Weaver's spot in the New York Yankees' rotation.

Weaver hasn't been removed from the rotation. Contreras is just replacing David Wells, who is out with a bruised right calf after getting hit by a ball during his last start.

"There you go, he's pitching Friday. What else could I do?" manager Joe Torre said jokingly.

The decision means Roger Clemens will make his next bid for his 300th win Sunday against the Tigers. Clemens lost in his first attempt Monday, 8-4 to Boston, and Torre wanted to give him an extra day of rest because the Rocket threw a season-high 133 pitches against the Red Sox.

Steinbrenner told the New York Post and Daily News he wasn't happy with his team's play after the Yankees lost their fifth straight game Monday.

He said it was up to Torre to figure out how to turn the team around. The Yankees snapped the skid with an 11-3 victory over Boston on Tuesday night.

"He's the boss. Mr. Steinbrenner is the boss," Torre said. "As far as I'm concerned, anything he wants to say at any time, he has the right to do that."

New York had also lost eight straight games at Yankee Stadium for the first time in 17 years. The Yankees are 1½ games behind Boston in the AL East.

"I understand he's not happy. No one else is either," general manager Brian Cashman said. "There's pressure to perform. It's part of the New York scene, whether it's from the owner, the fan base or yourselves."

Steinbrenner also was critical of Japanese star Hideki Matsui, one of the big offseason acquisitions. Matsui, known as Godzilla in Japan because of his power, has hit only three home runs in New York's first 51 games.

"All I know is that this is not the guy we signed in terms of power," Steinbrenner told the Daily News. "This falls to my hitting coach figuring out a way to straighten this guy out."

Matsui said he couldn't remember if he had ever been criticized publicly by the owner during his time in Japan.

"Certainly, I'm sure there's not a player who would be happy about it," Matsui said through an interpreter. "But if you're not putting up results, certainly it is bound to happen."

Contreras signed a $32 million, four-year contract in the offseason. In spring training, he lost the fifth starter's spot to Weaver, who has one win in his last six starts.

Contreras was sent to the minors in April due to control problems. He was recalled recently, and again is pitching out of the bullpen. Since allowing five runs in a loss to Boston last week, Contreras has pitched five scoreless innings.

Steinbrenner told the Newark Star-Ledger he thought Contreras should be in the rotation because Weaver is "too much of a thrower right now."

"I have my own stuff to worry about," Weaver said. "Obviously, I know I haven't done what is expected of me. I have to look forward. That's all I can focus on."

Torre said Weaver responds well to challenges, but also said his next start is not an audition to stay in the rotation. Weaver is 3-3 with a 5.31 ERA this season.

"I still have a great deal of confidence in Weaver," Torre said. "I felt that last year, this spring and this year. Still, he's had some bad games. Last game was better than the previous one by a mile."

Torre said he'd prefer to move Contreras back to the bullpen when Wells returns because he's "intrigued" by his ability to bridge the gap between the starters and closer Mariano Rivera.

But if Contreras is one of his five best starters, Torre said he'd probably keep him in the rotation.

Wells was hit by a batted ball in the second inning Saturday against Toronto and has been limping around ever since. The Yankees won't know when he'll be able to return until after he can throw off a mound.

"He got smoked pretty good," Cashman said. "Boomer's a tough guy. He's been hit quite a bit, but this one really got him."

The Yankees won't know when he'll be able to return until after he can throw off a mound.

"I feel better than yesterday," Wells said.