Report: Michael Pineda likely to return to Yankees rotation next week

Michael Pineda, who has been out since May with an injured shoulder, will likely return to the New York Yankees rotation on Wednesday in Baltimore. Pineda will make his second rehab start on Friday at Triple-A.

Author:
SI Wire
Publish date:
Aug 8, 2014

Michael Pineda, who has been out since May with an injured shoulder, will likely return to the New York Yankees rotation on Wednesday in Baltimore, reports the New York Daily News.

Pineda will make his second rehab start on Friday at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and the goal is for him to throw 75 to 80 pitches. The right-hander tossed 3.1 scoreless innings in an Aug. 3 rehab start.

The 25-year-old was acquired by the Yankees in January 2012 for top prospects Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi. But Pineda did not throw a pitch for New York until 2014 due to sustaining tendinitis and an anterior labral tear in his right shoulder.

More: How Brett Gardner's career season is saving the Yankees

Pineda made four starts for the Yankees earlier this season, going 2-2 with a 1.83 ERA, before he was suspended 10 games for what appeared to be pine tar on his neck. While serving the suspension, he strained a muscle in his shoulder that has kept him out since.

In Pineda's 2011 rookie season, he went 9-10 with a 3.74 ERA and 173 strikeouts for the Seattle Mariners.

GALLERY: PITCHERS DOCTORING BASEBALLS

Pitchers Doctoring Baseballs

Brian Matusz — May 23, 2015

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Brian Matusz was ejected from a 1-0 13-inning loss to the Miami Marlins for having a foreign substance on his arm. Matusz was tossed in the bottom of the 12th inning after Marlins manager Dan Jennings alerted the umpires to the substance. He had just recorded the second out of the inning.

Will Smith — May 21, 2015

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Will Smith was ejected from a 10–1 loss to the Atlanta Braves after umpires found a foreign substance on his arm. Smith entered the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with Atlanta leading 2–1. After four pitches, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez asked umpires to check on the left-handed pitcher. Crew chief Jim Joyce ejected Smith after the umpires found rosin and sunscreen on his right forearm. Smith received an eight-game suspension, which he elected to appeal.

Michael Pineda — April 23, 2014

Pineda appeared to have pine tar on his palm during an April 10 start against the Red Sox, but the team didn't complain because the substance disappeared the inning after it was brought to Red Sox manager John Farrell's attention. During the second inning of a game two weeks later, Farrell again spotted something on Pineda's neck and approached home-plate umpire and crew chief Gerry Davis. Davis checked Pineda's body and uniform before going to his neck and wiping away the pine tar. Pineda was immediately ejected from the game and later suspended 10 games.

Joel Peralta — June 19, 2012

Nationals manager Davey Johnson complained about the glove of Rays reliever Joel Peralta, and insisted umpires check out the situation. They found pine tar and Peralta was ejected, which led to a heated exchange between Johnson and Rays manager Joe Maddon. Peralta had previously pitched for the Nats, and Maddon took exception to Johnson abusing his inside knowledge of the pitcher's methods.

Kenny Rogers — Oct. 22, 2006

In Game 2 of the World Series, the umps asked wily veteran Kenny Rogers of the Tigers to clean off his hand after spotting a brown substance on his left thumb. Rogers said the mark was a mixture of mud, resin, spit and dirt, and when he came out for the next inning, his hand was clean. He went on to pitch shutout baseball in a Tigers victory.

Brendan Donnelly — June 14, 2005

Angels reliever Brendan Donnelly got a 10-day suspension for having pine tar on his glove. Years later, he'd become a vocal supporter of legalizing the substance, arguing the value and added safety of pitchers having better control over the ball.

Julian Tavarez — Aug. 20, 2004

Julian Tavarez of the St. Louis Cardinals was hit with a 10-day suspension after umpires discovered pine tar on his dirty cap.

Zach Day — May 17, 2003

Expos pitcher Zach Day was tossed after glue was found on his right middle finger, supposedly to cover up a blister that had bothered him for the first two innings.

Byung-Hyun Kim — June 9, 1999

D'Backs 20-year-old rookie reliever Byung-Hyun Kim got ejected from a game with the Cubs when a bandage that contained heat balm fell from his shirt sleeve. Kim said he used the bandage when he pitched in Korea and had simply forgotten to remove it.

Brian Moehler — May 1, 1999

Brian Moehler of the Tigers struggled for the first couple of innings against Tampa Bay, allowing three runs. The next four innings, he allowed just one hit. Tampa manager Larry Rothschild complained, and umpires found sandpaper taped to Moehler's thumb. When asked, Moehler said the substance was dirt.

Jay Howell — Oct. 8, 1988

Dodgers reliever Jay Howell was hit with a 2-day suspension for pine tar in his glove, in midst of the NLCS against the Mets.

Kevin Gross — Aug. 11, 1987

Phillies pitcher Kevin Gross was ejected from a game against the Cubs, after umpires discovered sandpaper glued to the inside of his glove. He received a 10-day suspension and the glove was confiscated by MLB.

Joe Niekro — Aug. 3, 1987

Days before Gross' incident, Minnesota's Joe Niekro got a 10-day suspension of his own after being caught with an emery board and sandpaper in his back pocket.

Gaylord Perry — Aug. 23, 1982

Even toward the end of his career, Gaylord Perry still slipped in his notorious spitball here and there. As a member of the Mariners, the Hall of Famer was ejected for allegedly throwing the pitch against the Boston Red Sox, his first career ejection that was followed by a 10-day suspension.

Rick Honeycutt — Sept. 30, 1980

Rick Honeycutt of the Mariners was caught using a thumbtack to doctor the baseball when Willie Wilson of the Royals spotted the tack, taped to the pitcher's finger, after hitting a double. The umpires discovered not just the tack, but an inadvertent gash on Honeycutt's forehead incurred after he rubbed his face. He was ejected, suspended for 10 games, and hit with a fine of $250.

Don Sutton — July 14, 1978

Dodgers pitcher Don Sutton was ejected from a game after it was discovered he was throwing a scuffed ball. He was originally ejected and suspended for 10 days, but later threatened to sue the National League and the issue went away.

- Molly Geary