Wang or Pettitte will start for N.Y.

Chien-Ming Wang or Andy Pettitte will start the New York Yankees’ playoff opener next week.

The order has not been finalized, but New York manager Joe Torre said the pair will pitch in either Game 1 or 2. Roger Clemens, who is rehabbing a strained left hamstring, is scheduled to start the third game if he has no setbacks.

“It’s either going to be Wang or Pettitte,” Torre said.

Wang is 19-7 with a 3.70 ERA.

Pettitte, scheduled to make his last regular-season start Saturday at Baltimore, is 14-9 with a 3.81 ERA.

Clemens will remain in Florida to work out at the Yankees’ spring training complex when the team closes out the regular season this weekend in Baltimore. Torre said Clemens is scheduled to pitch in a simulated game Monday, and will rejoin the team for a team workout Tuesday.

“Roger will probably be the third (game starter) unless something doesn’t get better,” Torre said.

Should Clemens not be ready, Mike Mussina would likely take his spot.

Howard breaks record for strikeouts

Ryan Howard struck out for the 196th time Thursday to set the single-season major league record.

In the third inning of Philadelphia’s game against Atlanta, Howard swung at and missed a down-and-away splitter from John Smoltz for strike three. The Philadelphia first baseman broke the mark established in 2004 by Adam Dunn of the Cincinnati Reds.

Clearing the bases

Milwaukee ace Ben Sheets will not start today against the San Diego Padres and Chris Capuano will take his place. Sheets (12-5, 3.82 ERA) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday, but still had discomfort in his left hamstring after straining it against Houston on Sept. 18. … Marlon Anderson’s two-game suspension was upheld, leaving the Mets without one of their top bench players.