MLB

Yankees’ Pineda out indefinitely after latest setback

Michael Pineda’s brief story of redemption took another step back Saturday.

After feeling soreness in the same area that caused him to go on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his shoulder, Pineda was flown up from Tampa, Fla., and an MRI exam showed inflammation. He will be shut down again indefinitely.

“He didn’t feel good,” manager Joe Girardi said of Pineda. “Not as sore as he was before … but we’ll shut him down for a little bit of time here and then try to get him going again. It’s not the news that we wanted, but it’s what we’re dealing with.”

Pineda’s surprising start to the season is now a distant memory, tainted with both the pine-tar controversy and this injury. The Yankees had hoped to have him back in the rotation sometime in early June, but that won’t happen now.

The setback would seem to only increase the need for the Yankees to search for another starter, with CC Sabathia out until July at the earliest and Ivan Nova gone for the season, but as general manager Brian Cashman said on Saturday, “I’ve been out there looking around for pitching. We’ve got three guys down so the need is there and nothing has presented itself.”

Girardi said he is hopeful Pineda will get back at some point and be productive, but it will take longer than they would have liked, if at all.


Carlos Beltran took batting practice again Saturday and said he felt “fine.”

He is expected to take BP again Sunday and if all goes well, the Yankees will determine a rehab schedule for the right fielder who has been sidelined with a bone spur in his right elbow.


Shawn Kelley (back) said he had no issues after throwing his first bullpen session on Friday since going on the disabled list. He is scheduled to throw another session Sunday.


Phil Hughes is scheduled to start for the Twins on Sunday, returning to his house of horrors from a year ago. In his final season with the Yankees, Hughes surrendered 17 of his 24 homers at Yankee Stadium. He has rebounded nicely with Minnesota, entering Sunday’s game 5-1 with a 3.23 ERA.


The Yankees will turn to another rookie to start on Sunday, with Chase Whitley making his fourth appearance since being called up. He still is trying to navigate both pitching in the majors and being in the rotation.

“It’s all new to me,” said Whitley, who made his first three starts against National League teams. “But I think I’m adjusting OK.”


Yangervis Solarte went 3-for-4 with a homer. … Derek Jeter had two hits and is 17-for-53 in his last 13 games.


Girardi hoped to see Kelly Johnson start swinging the bat better.

“It’s important to get him going,” Girardi said. “This ball park plays to him.”

He had two singles, including an RBI infield hit in the eighth, but made another error at third base.


Jacoby Ellsbury is showing signs of snapping out of his recent slump, with a walk and a single Saturday. He has nine hits in his last 24 at-bats.

“He’s a very good hitter,” Girardi said. “You’re not going to keep him down forever.”


Some of the loudest cheers in The Bronx on Saturday were reserved for Rangers Derek Stepan, Derick Brassard and Ryan McDonagh, who were shown on the scoreboard during the game.