MLB

Yankees’ A-Rod to face live pitching today

There is no way of knowing if Alex Rodriguez will play for the Yankees this season, but in the past several days the reports have suggested the third baseman is making minimal progress returning from hip surgery in Tampa.

“Alex is doing a lot more stuff,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said. “[Today] he is going to be in a situation where he will get some simulated at-bats off live pitching, but it’s not a simulated game.’’

Rodriguez got a jump on that schedule yesterday when he stepped in against a minor league pitcher for two rounds of 15 pitches. He tracked most of the pitches but did put six balls in play.

Rodriguez also long tossed and fielded ground balls.

Rodriguez doesn’t have the minor league facility to himself. Derek Jeter (ankle fracture), Curtis Granderson (pinky fracture), Eduardo Nunez (left oblique strain) and Francisco Cervelli (right hand fracture) are also there working out.

Jeter participated in tee and toss drills, took cage batting practice and fielded grounders.

Granderson is slated to be examined by doctors in New York Thursday and will have the pin from his pinky removed. He has been long-tossing but not catching the return throw since the left pinky suffered the fracture.

A week of strengthening will follow, after which he should be in position to put a bat into his hand.

Cervelli did long toss and receiving drills.

“Maybe we are a week to 10 days to getting him underwater with a bat,’’ Cashman said. “You’re talking about mid-July when you have the opportunity to see him back here.’’

Nunez did tee and toss, long toss and took 30 ground balls. Eligible to come off the 60-day DL early in July, Cashman says it is possible the shortstop could be activated around the All Star break (July 15-18).

“There is a homestand that starts [July] 5th through the 14th. Is it possible he could be back at some point during that time? We hope it would be yes, here or Scranton [Triple-A],’’ Cashman said. “At some point we got to get him healthy and going again.’’

* Michael Pineda (shoulder) will start Thursday for Class A Tampa against Brevard County. It will be his second real game (he threw a simulated game this weekend) on a minor league rehab assignment.

* David Robertson said his right leg was “fine,” after he was bruised on a line drive in the ninth inning of Sunday’s win in Anaheim.

“Our reports have been real good, he has a very good rehab process without issues,’’ Cashman said of the right-hander who hasn’t pitched since 2011 due to last year’s shoulder surgery. “His [velocity] depending on what game you are talking about, topping out at 94 [mph], topping out at 95 and sitting at 92 mostly. Over time, you have a chance to see more if there is more there as he gets stretched out.’’