CHICAGO — Michael Pineda is making progress coming back from a teres major muscle strain high on the right side of his back.
Tuesday he threw a bullpen session and according to Yankees manager Joe Girardi will throw to hitters this weekend.
“I believe he will throw to hitters Saturday, live [batting practice], simulated type of things and we will go from there,’’ Girardi said Thursday night when David Phelps, who replaced Pineda in the rotation, was a hard-luck loser in the Yankees’ 3-2 loss to the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. “He is progressing like we want, things are going according to plan.’’
In a best-case scenario Pineda would need two minor league rehab games before rejoining the rotation that he has been away from since April 24 when he was suspended for 10 days after getting caught with pine tar on his neck the previous night in Boston. While suspended Pineda hurt his back throwing in Tampa.
Pineda, who missed the previous two seasons because of a complicated right shoulder surgery, is 2-2 with a 1.83 ERA in four starts and has been missed.
Derek Jeter, who went 0-for-3 with a walk as the DH, needs to make one more appearance at shortstop to tie Luis Aparicio for second place on the all-time list of games played at the position with 2,583. Omar Vizquel is the leader with 2,709.
Mark Teixeira’s two-run single in the ninth gave him 19 RBIs in the last 19 games. … The three hits in Thursday’s 3-2 loss to the White Sox tied the Yankees lowest total of the season. … The Yankees have dropped seven of the last 10 games against the White Sox.
Girardi said Shawn Kelley, who had a setback Monday after a throwing session at Yankee Stadium, continues a rehab program for his lower back.
“My guess is he will try to do something next week,’’ Girardi said of the right-handed reliever who hasn’t pitched since May 6.
The Yankees’ previous visit to U.S. Cellular Field had a lot more attention on it than the four-game series that opened against the White Sox Thursday evening.
That’s because Alex Rodriguez was returning from a hip problem and was appealing a 211-game suspension for being involved with the Biogenesis mess.
“I haven’t thought about it,’’ Girardi said when asked about the Aug. 5 -7 series last season in which the Yankees were swept in three games by a morbid White Sox club that finished 63-99 and last in the AL Central.
Girardi was scolded in several places for not being more critical of Rodriguez.
“That’s part of my job and we didn’t play particularly well,’’ Girardi said.
Asked if he has kept in touch with the suspended Rodriguez, Girardi said, “I am not going to say.’’
Talking about White Sox DH Paul Konerko, Girardi sounded a lot like other managers when asked about Jeter. Like Jeter, Konerko has announced this is his final season.
“He is a tremendous player,” Girardi said of the veteran right-handed hitter who is batting .194 with two homers and 11 RBIs. “He is the guy you didn’t want up with the game on the line and runners in scoring position.
“I always thought he played the game the right way, and I never heard a bad thing about hit. He has a great career and is a great White Sox.’’
Konerko’s two-out double against Phelps started a two-run rally in the second. He went 1-for-4 and scored a run.