CHICAGO (AP) - Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda is scheduled to pitch two innings in an extended spring training game on Tuesday, increasing the possibility he could start a rehab assignment soon.
Pineda, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 6 with a shoulder muscle injury, threw 28 pitches of live batting practice on Saturday at the Yankees’ facility in Tampa, Florida. If Tuesday’s outing goes well, Pineda could begin a rehab stint in the minors or pitch in another extended spring game.
“They might do another extended-spring start just because you can control it more,” manager Joe Girardi said Sunday before the finale of a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox. “Just depending on what they want to do.”
Pineda, who missed the past two seasons due to major shoulder surgery, was caught with a foreign substance on his neck April 23 and banned 10 games. He then got hurt while throwing a simulated game on April 29.
“As long as he has no setbacks, you get going pretty quickly here,” Girardi said.
Also Sunday, the Yankees got second baseman Brian Roberts back in the lineup after he fouled a pitch off his right knee Friday. Roberts rested during New York’s 4-3 win in 10 innings on Saturday.
Girardi said slugger Carlos Beltran will attempt some dry swings in New York on Monday. Beltran is out with a bone spur in his right elbow that could require surgery.
Reliever Shawn Kelley (back) is scheduled to play catch on Monday and catcher Francisco Cervelli (strained right hamstring) ran the bases on Saturday.
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