Progressing Pineda nearing mound work

MINNEAPOLIS -- Injured Yankees righty Michael Pineda is playing catch at a distance of 90 feet, and he will get some pitching work in soon.

"The hope is at the end of the week -- next week -- we start to get him on the mound," manager Joe Girardi said.

The Yankees placed Pineda on the 60-day disabled list on May 6 after the 25-year-old suffered right shoulder inflammation. He was 2-2 with a 1.83 ERA up to that point and proved that he still had the talent he showed as an All-Star with the Mariners in 2011.

Back on June 13, Girardi foresaw Pineda returning before the end of the season.

"I would think August is probably realistic," Girardi said. "You've got to build him up. That's the problem."