Michael Pineda, who has been out since May with an injured shoulder, will likely return to the New York Yankees Wednesday in Baltimore.  Pineda hasn't pitched for the Yankees since being tossed from his April 23rd start for having pine tar on his neck.

Pineda will make his second rehab star Friday night at Triple-A-Scranton/Wiles Barre with the goal being for him to throw 75 to 80 pitches.  Pineda tossed 3.1 scoreless innings in an August 3rd rehab start.  There had been talk of Pineda returning Friday due to David Phelps being unable to make his start because of an injured elbow.  However, the Yankees will have Esmil Rogers make the start Friday against the Cleveland Indians

The Yankees will have Pineda throw a second rehab start in order to get his pitch count up to 80.  If Pineda returns to makes the start Wednesday against Baltimore it would be earlier than expected as the Yankees originally wanted Pineda to make three rehab starts, not two.

The only reason Pineda would not return to the Yankees rotation would be due to discomfort in his arm. The Yankees are in the middle of a playoff race, but they will not rush Pineda back.  Pineda needs to make sure he is 100% before he pitches any games for the Yankees.

Pineda made four starts for the Yankees earlier in the season, going 2-2 with a 1.83 ERA, before he was suspended.  In Pineda's rookie season with the Mariners, he went 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA and 173 strikeouts. The Yankees acquired Pineda form the Mariners in January for top prospects Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi

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Jeremy Blanding
Sports Writer for VAVEL USA. Covering all news in NBA, MLB, NFL, and NCAA.