ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It might not have been the smartest move, but Joba Chamberlain heaving a ball from foul territory along the third-base line deep into the left-field seats Wednesday morning after a bullpen session was a strong hint the right elbow is fine.
“Everything is feeling real good,’’ said Chamberlain, who will throw a simulated game tomorrow at the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa. “The fastball command continues to get better. I have a better tempo and rhythm. The pitch that hasn’t been good is my slider and we focused on that and it’s better.’’
Chamberlain, who had Tommy John surgery last summer and dislocated the right ankle in a trampoline accident in March, insists he will pitch in the big leagues this year but doesn’t have an exact date.
Because so much has always been made of Chamberlain’s speed gun readings, he was asked if he could tell the fastball was progressing without a gun pointed at it.
“I don’t need a gun to know,’’ Chamberlain said. “The ball is coming out of my hand good.’’
***
Russell Martin went 0-for-4 and is hitless in 27 at-bats.
“It’s going to end, I know that,’’ manager Joe Girardi said after the Yankees’ 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the Rays. “Friday would be a great day.’’
Martin did pick Sean Rodriguez off first base in the fourth.
***
Under a new rule clubs can add a player for doubleheaders and the Yankees will recall right-hander Cory Wade for Saturday’s two-gate twinbill against the Red Sox in Boston. The struggling right-hander was optioned to Triple-A Scraton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.
***
The Yankees claimed outfielder Darnell McDonald off waivers from the Red Sox and he will join the team in Boston Friday.
The Yankees will need to make a roster move to add the 33-year-old, who batted .214 (18-for-78) in 38 games for the Bosox this season. He has played for the Orioles, Twins and Reds. He batted .270 in 117 games for the 2010 Red Sox.
David Phelps, Wednesday’s starter, is a candidate to be optioned to the minors because he won’t be available to pitch this weekend, and the Yankees hope CC Sabathia will come off the disabled list next week after the All-Star break.
By carrying McDonald the Yankees will have six outfielders, a situation that won’t last beyond Sunday night’s game.
“We are seeing three lefties [in Boston] and he will play the outfield,’’ Girardi said of McDonald.
***
According to pitching coach Larry Rothschild, Sabathia will either throw on flat ground or off a bullpen mound Friday. If it’s flat ground, the Yankees ace will throw a bullpen session Sunday.
Either way Sabathia said he will be ready to come off the DL following the All-Star break.
***
Andruw Jones could be in for extended playing time. Jones started Wednesday against lefty David Price, going 1-for-4, and the Red Sox are starting lefties Franklin Morales and Felix Doubront on Saturday and lefty Jon Lester on Sunday. … Girardi said he is leaning toward starting Freddy Garcia in the day game Saturday and Phil Hughes in the nightcap. Hiroki Kuroda starts tomorrow night and Ivan Nova goes on Sunday.
***
According to Girardi, Brett Gardner is “supposed to swing without hitting a ball in the next day or two.’’ Gardner has appeared in just nine games this season because of a right elbow problem that has kept him idle since April 17.
***
Catching prospect Austin Romine, who has been out since early in spring training with a back problem, caught a bullpen session recently and “is a couple of weeks away from playing in a game,’’ according to Girardi.
***
Reliever David Aardsma is waiting for Dr. Lewis Yocum’s opinion on the surgically repaired right elbow since Yocum did Tommy John surgery on Aardsma last year. Aardsma suffered a setback last week.
george.king@nypost.com