BALTIMORE — The Yankees are gambling on the longest of long shots by starting Michael Pineda on Wednesday against the AL East-leading Orioles.
When Pineda’s minor league rehab assignment started Aug. 3, the party line was the right-hander would need three outings before being in position to come off the disabled list.
Well, after two games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre the Yankees believe Pineda feels well enough and is throwing the ball well enough to face the Orioles in the finale of a three-game series that could help decide the Yankees’ fate in the AL East.
This despite not having pitched since April 23, when he was caught with pine tire on his neck in full view of TV cameras and suspended for 10 games. While suspended, he suffered a muscle strain behind his right shoulder while throwing in a simulated game in Tampa on April 29.
It was the latest injury to Pineda, who was 2-2 with a sparkling 1.83 ERA in four starts when suspended. He missed all of 2012 due to shoulder surgery and appeared in 10 minor league games last season but didn’t work in the big leagues.
“We wanted to make sure he was ready, that we felt he was ready and that he felt he was ready,’’ Joe Girardi said of Pineda, who went 0-1 with a 1.17 ERA in two starts for SWB. In 7²/₃ innings he allowed an earned run, nine hits, one walk and fanned 11.
“You always give him plenty of time to get ready and you err on the cautious side. If he felt he needed another one or we felt he needed another one that was built in.’’
Pineda, whose Yankees career has been dominated by physical issues from the start when he reported to his first spring training 20 pounds overweight and then hurt his shoulder, wants to put the embarrassing pine-tar issue in the past. However, it remains to be seen if he has ditched the substance or simply has found a better place to hide it.
“I made a mistake, I learned from this,’’ said Pineda, who said he won’t use pine tar. “Everything is in the past right now. I want to continue my career and help my team.’’
Girardi’s other option for Wednesday night was Esmil Rogers, who started and beat the Indians on Friday night at Yankee Stadium. In five innings, the right-hander claimed on waivers from Toronto on July 31 allowed a run and four hits.
Girardi said the reports on Pineda’s fastball, slider and changeup were solid, but a question about his arm strength remains.
“You are never sure when a guy is rehabbing how the arm strength will be and how sharp they are going to be,’’ Girardi said. “But he threw the ball well. It’s nice, this is a guy who threw very well before going on the DL.’’
Pineda is confident he can help the Yankees in the AL East race.
“Everything is good. I am feeling good. I am feeling powerful,’’ Pineda said. “I am happy with this. I am excited but not nervous.’’
He was the second of four starters in the team’s Opening Day rotation to go down before the All-Star break and is the first back.
Ivan Nova’s season ended April 19 due to Tommy John surgery. CC Sabathia won’t work again this year due to a right knee problem that required arthroscopic surgery. He last pitched on May 10. Masahiro Tanaka is attempting to rehab a small tear in the right ulnar collateral ligament and hoping to avoid Tommy John surgery. He hasn’t pitched since July 8.