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Michael Pineda's next rehab start will come Friday in Trenton, Brian Cashman says. #Yankees
— Ken Davidoff (@KenDavidoff) June 11, 2013
The Michael Pineda rehab train heads north to Pennsylvania this weekend, as his next appearance will come on Friday in a game with the Double-A Trenton Thunder against the Altoona Curve. Pineda's first rehab appearance with the Tampa Yankees on Sunday went smoothly with Pineda allowing only an unearned run across 4.1 innings. Scouts had him clocked at up to 95 mph on the radar gun.
Pineda will try to work up to 75 pitches this next time out. The Yankees have been increasing his pitch counts by seven or eight pitches each time, rather than the usual fifteen. It makes sense to not push him too hard – the Yankees' rotation isn't really hurting for pitchers right now, so they can take the time to be extra careful with him. A healthy Pineda for the future is worth more than having him in New York before he's truly ready when there isn't an immediate need.
As with any starter it seems, there were rumblings about putting Pineda in the bullpen for the time being. Right now, there really isn't a need for that either.
Yanks prefer Pineda as a starter, but if a need comes up he could be a bullpen guy. Right now, the Yanks' bullpen is needless.
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) June 10, 2013
Can we just not? Please?