Pineda brings a 2-2 record and a 1.83 ERA after a rocky start to the season. He was suspended for trying to use pine tar while pitching in a game versus Boston on April 23, which got him ejected from that contest. Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
BALTIMORE — Injuries have cost the Yankees four starting pitchers this season and hurt the team badly. But New York’s finally getting some good news on that front as right-hander Michael Pineda will return.
The Yankees confirmed Monday that Pineda is going to be activated from the disabled list to start on Wednesday against the Orioles. Pineda has been on the DL since May 6 due to right shoulder muscle problems and, after two rehab starts, he’s coming back.
“We wanted to make sure that he was ready, that we felt he was ready, that he felt that he was ready,” New York manager Joe Girardi said. “We feel he’s ready now.”
Girardi said they’re going to watch Pineda’s pitch count at first. In this start, they’re going to limit the right-hander to 85-90 pitches.
Pineda brings a 2-2 record and a 1.83 ERA after a rocky start to the season. He was suspended for trying to use pine tar while pitching in a game versus Boston on April 23, which got him ejected from that contest.
The right-hander suffered his injury during the subsequent 10-day suspension that Major League Baseball gave him for the incident.
The Yankees need better starting pitching if they want to have any shot at catching the Orioles or making the American League playoffs.
“I feel good about him taking the mound,” Girardi said. “We need him to pitch well.”
Fantasy Update: If you need pitching and still own Pineda, then you may want to get him active. But take a cautious approach in his first start back off the DL.
