Pettitte, A-Rod to play simulated game to test injuries
Two New York Yankees stars currently on the disabled list will look to help each other out. Pitcher Andy Pettitte and third-baseman Alex Rodriguez will play a simulated game to test how close both of them are to returning. Pettitte has been out for over six weeks with groin problems and Rodriguez has a nagging calf injury.
Pettitte will pitch to Rodriguez with a coach calling balls and strikes and Rodriguez will also try to run the bases. The game will be used as an evaluation to determine how close the two stars are to returning.
"I'm definitely going to push much harder [Saturday]," said Rodriguez. "We're going to go out at it full motion, just like in a ballgame, with cleats on and trying to go full out of the box."
Pettitte threw 53 pitches in a bullpen session for the Yankees on Wednesday. He has already suffered several setbacks from his strained groin and hopes he’s finally able to return soon. If he is able to pitch the simulated game without any problems, he will likely undergo one rehab start in the minors before returning to the Yankees starting rotation.
Rodriguez meanwhile has taken batting practice the last several days and has also practiced fielding at third base. He also ran the bases, but he is still unsure of when exactly he will return. He’s eligible to come off the disabled list as early as Sunday but declined to say if indeed he’ll be in the line-up that day.
"Today was a good day, but I'm going to wait and see," he said. "I don't want to over-promise and under-deliver. I'd much rather go the other way on that. But Sunday is a possibility, definitely."
Rodriguez suffered the strained calf in an 20 August game against the Seattle Mariners. He doesn’t feel pain in his calf anymore but acknowledged the fact that he hasn’t pushed it hard enough yet to evaluate where he’s at.
"I've healed quite nicely with this injury," he said. "But I think at this point of the year you have to be very conservative. Obviously the goal here is the big picture. I just want to make sure I'm back to 100 per cent. I'm hoping Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, one of those days I'd definitely like to be ready."
The Yankees play a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend. They will then open up a series on Monday against the Baltimore Orioles.
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