NEW YORK -- Injured Yankees starter Michael Pineda is getting closer to starting his rehab assignment, manager Joe Girardi said.

Michael Pineda

#35 SP
New York Yankees

2014 STATS

• GM4

• W2

• L2

• BB3

• K15

• ERA1.83

Pineda, one of four Yankees’ starters penciled into the rotation at the beginning of the season who are injured, is expected to throw two sessions of live batting practice in the coming days. If all goes well, he will progress to throwing either simulated innings or innings against live hitters in rehab starts.

Pineda hasn’t pitched since April 23 due to a troublesome shoulder injury. The righty threw a bullpen session over the All Star break and didn’t have an issue.

Pineda is in the midst of an approximately six-week process to get back on the mound.

Beltran to throw soon: Carlos Beltran has been limited to DH duty for the Yankees because of a bone spur in his right elbow that causes soreness when he tries to throw. But Girardi said on Sunday that Beltran is expected to try to throw “soon.” So the veteran may be available for outfield duty in the near future, provided he doesn’t have any setbacks.

Joe marvels at Kuroda: That Hiroki Kuroda is the lone Yankees starter who was penciled into the rotation at the beginning of the season hasn’t been lost on Girardi.

“The last guy standing in a sense is the oldest guy,” Girardi said of the 39-year-old Kuroda. “It just tells you about how he prepares himself.”

Girardi was asked if he could see himself asking Kuroda to pitch more in the second half of the season due to the various injuries to the Yankees’ pitching staff.

“You can maybe push him a little bit more but I think you have to be cautious,” he said.