MLB

Yankees A-Rod, Pettitte making ‘significant progress’

CLEVELAND — Joe Girardi wants to hear Dr. Chris Ahmad give Andy Pettitte and Alex Rodriguez permission today to take significant steps toward rejoining the Yankees.

Ahmad will examine Pettitte’s fractured left ankle and Rodriguez’ broken left hand.

“Basically they would be turned loose,’’ Girardi said of the best news Ahmad, the Yankees’ physician, could deliver. “Get Andy off the mound and Alex taking regular [batting practice]. That would be the best-case scenario. That’s what I am hoping.’’

Girardi isn’t just wishing.

“I have seen significant progress this week, so would I be surprised if they were allowed to do things? No,’’ Girardi said.

One day after a 40-pitch workout on flat ground, Pettitte played catch yesterday and likely will repeat the process today.

Rodriguez started hitting off a tee and taking swings off tosses Friday.

There is no definite date for Pettitte and Rodriguez to return.

“You just have to see how the hand responds every day to the vibration and how he feels,’’ Girardi said of Rodriguez, whose presence has been missed in the middle of the lineup. “Right now he feels good.’’

BOX SCORE

The Yankees are 16-14 without Rodriguez and have scored 12 runs in the past five games.

After Eric Chavez went 1-for-4 in yesterday’s 4-2 win over the Indians, the Yankees’ third-base replacements are hitting a combined .103 (4-for-39) with one RBI in the past 10 games. All four hits are singles — two by Chavez and two by Casey McGehee.

One obstacle for Pettitte and Rodriguez is by the time they are ready to play in games the minor-league seasons will be complete. That would force them to get ready for big league action in simulated games, which are not close to big-league pace.

Pettitte has been out since June 27 when he was hit by a batted ball. Rodriguez has been down since July 24 when he was hit by a pitch.

*** CC Sabathia threw his usual in-between-starts bullpen session yesterday morning and said his left elbow felt good. Though the Yankees did not anticipate a recurrence of the inflammation that landed the ace on the DL, the news was encouraging.

***Beginning tonight at Yankee Stadium, where the Yankees host the Blue Jays, the Yankees play 22 straight games against AL East opponents. Thirteen of them are against the Rays (6) and Orioles (7), who are second and third in the East, respectively. Twenty-nine of the final 35 are against division opponents.

“It’s a good thing — you can separate yourself by the way you play,’’ Girardi said. “Your destiny is in front of you.”

Derek Jeter said, “They’re big. We play everyone. Everyone that’s in this race, we play this entire month. We need to play well.”

The Yankees are 5-7 against the Rays this season and 6-5 against the Orioles.

***Girardi dropped a big pile of praise on David Phelps, who is scheduled to fill in for Ivan Nova tonight. The right-handed rookie starts for the sixth time this year and will be appearing in his 25th game.

“He has been really, really good, just because of all the roles he has been able to perform in,’’ Girardi said. “I liken him a little bit to maybe Ramiro Mendoza. He is able to do everything: start, long relief, short relief. He has been really good.’’

Mendoza was a valuable member of Joe Torre’s staff from 1996 to 2002 because of his versatility. Phelps has shown the capability of being that type of pitcher.

In five starts, the Notre Dame product is 1-2 with a 2.29 ERA. In 19 relief appearances, he is 2-2 with a 2.54 ERA.

With Nova on the 15-day DL, Phelps likely will get multiple starts and could be part of the Yankees’ postseason roster if they get there.

***Girardi was asked if the Red Sox were done. The Yankees’ arch-rivals are 13 ½ games out of first place, nine back in the wild-card hunt and dealt Adrian Gonzalez to the Dodgers.

“I saw some crazy things last year,’’ Girardi said. “I don’t write anybody off.’’

Additional reporting by Dan Martin

george.king@nypost.com