This really has to be last licks for embattled starter Michael Pineda, who will start his official rehab assignment this Sunday. Pineda threw a 45-pitch simulated game today in Tampa, and things went “very well” says manager Joe Girardi. Brendan Kuty reported today that the Yankees were very excited with his three inning outing, so much so that they feel he’s ready to pitch in live games.
The only thing is this effectively starts his 30-day rehab clock that pitchers are allowed, so this is do or die for Pineda. If he can’t make it back by then, his season will basically be over. But the Yankees aren’t looking at it that way, they hope that he can make it make back this time around. His next start will be around a four inning 60-pitch outing, and depending on how it goes they will slowly bump up his pitch count from there. Girardi said the goal is to get Pineda up to around 90 pitches and healthy. Although Girardi refused to put any exact date on his return, it is still expected to be sometime around mid-August.
