BOSTON — Sunday is the beginning of a 30-day rehab gig for Michael Pineda.
Though the Yankees want to believe the right-handed starter will pitch again for them this season, they shouldn’t stop scouring for another starter.
Pineda is scheduled to throw 60-to-65 pitches for Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre after two bullpen/simulated-game situations in Tampa.
Considering Pineda’s injury history, it’s not wise to count on him. He did not appear in a big league game in 2012 and 2013 because of shoulder surgery. With a strong spring training, he won the fifth starter’s job and his first three starts were solid, but he was ejected from the fourth on April 23 for applying pine tar to his neck at Fenway Park. A 10-game suspension followed and while throwing in Tampa, Pineda suffered a teres major (back) strain on April 29.
Coming back from that in late May, Pineda suffered a setback and an MRI exam unearthed inflammation high in his back near his surgically repaired shoulder.
Now, after what observers described as “very good’’ sessions, Pineda is attempting to get ready for the big leagues.
“The important thing is that he builds up and comes out of it healthy,’’ manager Joe Girardi said of Pineda, who is 2-2 with a 1.83 ERA in four games. “You figure 60 to 65 pitches [Sunday] and then five days later you get close to 80, you are starting to get pretty close.’’
Girardi is encouraged because Pineda hasn’t suffered a second setback.
“This is further [along] than he was before,’’ Girardi said. “It makes you feel this injury is healed.’’
Girardi started Francisco Cervelli behind the plate Saturday to catch Shane Greene, who made his fifth start this year. In each one, the right-hander, who allowed three runs on six hits in 4 ²/₃ innings in the Yankees’ 6-4 win, has thrown to Cervelli.
“There is a lot of familiarity and he has thrown the ball with Cervy,’’ said Girardi, who also said Saturday’s game came after Brian McCann caught Friday night. “I am going to give Brian days off in this next 13-day stretch, so I chose today as the day.’’
Greene is 2-1 with a 3.68 ERA in five starts. Fenway Park was where Greene made his major league debut on April 24 in relief, giving up three unearned runs and walking three.
Derek Jeter’s two hits raised his total to 3,425, five shy of tying Honus Wagner for sixth place on the all-time list.
Martin Prado made his first start as a Yankee on Saturday, playing right field and batting eighth. He went 1-for-3 with a walk, scored the Yankees’ first run and gave way to defensive replacement Ichiro Suzuki in the ninth inning.
It was Prado’s first start in right field as a big leaguer. He played two innings Friday night after joining the club.
“Nothing tells me he can’t do it,’’ Girardi said.
Carlos Beltran continues to participate in a throwing program, but the addition of Prado likely means Beltran won’t be needed in right field except in an emergency.
“There is less of a sense that we need to get him out there,’’ Girardi said of Beltran, who hasn’t played the outfield since May 12 due to a bone spur in the right elbow. He returned from the disabled list June 5 and has been used exclusively as the designated hitter. “Martin will play out there a lot. We have more options. We were carrying three outfielders, Carlos was the fourth and we were running infielders out there. We will keep him throwing. The one thing we don’t want to risk is him having a setback.’’
After going 2-for-5, Beltran is on a 17-for-38 (.447) hot streak and has hit in nine straight games.
Inserting the right-handed hitting Prado in right field will cut into the playing time of Ichiro, who has made 56 starts in right.
“At this point in the season you have to go day by day,’’ Girardi said of Ichiro, who is on a 4-for-24 (.167) skid. “We acquired Prado to play.’’