MLB

Yankees’ Hughes ready to test his arm

Phil Hughes is set to embark on his comeback.

Hughes hasn’t pitched in two months and hasn’t won a game this season, but the Yankees right-hander will be on the mound today to throw three innings in a simulated game at the team’s minor league complex in Tampa. He’ll be trying to reclaim his health, his velocity and his promise — the beginning of a critical journey.

Hughes, who will turn 25 later this month, has been on the disabled list since April 15 with an inflamed shoulder, and a healthy return would be a huge lift for the Yankees. He was an All-Star who went 18-8 with a 4.19 ERA last season and appeared to be emerging as one of the game’s best young righties before his arm woes landed him on the DL.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi cited the most important aspect of Hughes’ outing today as “how he feels.” But Girardi also said he’d take note of how Hughes recovers between innings, how stable his velocity is and how his body reacts following his outing.

While today is technically not a rehab start, it will at least begin Hughes’ process of throwing innings and getting his pitch count up. He figures to need at least three rehab starts after today, allowing his shoulder to strengthen and his stamina to increase enough for him to throw 90 to 100 pitches in a major league game.

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Given the way he’s feeling at the plate from the left side, Jorge Posada is anxious to try it from the other side of the dish.

With the Rangers starting lefties Derek Holland and C.J. Wilson tomorrow and Thursday, the switch-hitting Posada would welcome a crack at them, even though he is hitting .094 (3-for-32) against lefties.

“I would like to, I’m feeling pretty good,” said Posada, on a 24-for-72 (.333) tear since May 8. In a shorter taste, he’s 14-for-26 (.538) in his last seven games. “We will see. I think from both sides I’ve worked hard enough and things are paying off.”

Some, including manager Joe Girardi, point to the May 14 game against the Red Sox when Posada pulled himself from the game — after Girardi put him in the lineup hitting ninth — as the impetus for the rebound. He was hitting .165 at the time and is now batting .226.

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So, who starts Thursday against the Rangers in place of Bartolo Colon? David Phelps was slated to pitch last night for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre but was replaced by George Kontos and could make his major-league debut Thursday against the Rangers.

“It’s possible,” general manager Brian Cashman said of Phelps pitching Thursday.

Girardi didn’t tip his hand.

“There’s a lot of different things we could do depending on what happens in the next couple of days,” said Girardi, who, if he doesn’t need Hector Noesi in relief, could start the right-hander, who has been effective in the bullpen. “It’s something we could definitely consider.”

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Brett Gardner raised eyebrows when he fouled off a 3-2 pitch trying to bunt leading off the seventh inning.

“It went foul; I am aware of what the count was,” said Gardner, who was trying to take advantage of third baseman Jack Hanahan playing back.

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While none is ready to jump back into action, two of the Yankees’ injured relievers are throwing. A third is waiting to get cleared to start throwing.

“[Pedro] Feliciano [rotator cuff strain] is going to throw again [today] on [flat ground

Damaso Marte [inflamed labrum] played catch [yesterday] and [Rafael] Soriano [elbow inflammation] is going to see the doctor to determine when he will start to play catch.

As for Eric Chavez, Girardi said he hasn’t ran yet.

“Biggest step for him,” Girardi said of the injured infielder who is out due to a fractured foot.