Pineda feels shoulder pain, roughed up vs. Phillie...

Pineda feels shoulder pain, roughed up vs. Phillie...

Ron Antonelli/New York Daily News

Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda posted a 3.31 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings in first five starts.

TAMPA If Michael Pinedas dreadful outing against the Phillies Friday night wasnt enough to knock him out of the rotation, the soreness he felt in his pitching shou lder would seem to be the final blow.

Pineda was rocked for six runs on seven hits and three walks in only 2 2/3 innings, earning a chorus of boos from the typically mild-mannered Steinbrenner Field crowd.

After he returned to the clubhouse, the 23-year-old revealed that he had experienced some soreness in the back of his right shoulder during the outing.

Tonight, my arm is a little sore, Pineda said, adding that it felt fine before the game. When Im throwing, its a little sore. Sometimes every player doesnt feel 100 when they play every day.

Pineda will be sent for an MRI Saturday morning. Hell be joined by lefthander Cesar Cabral, who complained of pain in his left elbow after throwing an inning Friday night. Cabral, a 23-year-old Rule 5 pick who was in line to make the team, will undergo an MRI and X-ray.

This has been a real bad day, GM Brian Cashman said.

Although Pineda called it normal sore, Cashman was told by a team doctor that the pitcher had some tightness in the back of his shoulder. Pineda admitted that he had been trying to throw harder in his sixth start of the spring, attempting to put some of the questions about his lack of velocity to rest.

I tried to pitch my game, said Pineda, whose fastball mostly sat around 91 mph, touching 93-94 a few times. I tried to throw a little harder today.

Joe Girardi seemed disturbed by that news.

Thats the danger of people always talking about it, Girardi said of the hot-button velocity issue.

Pineda took the mound likely needing only a decent start to secure his spot in the rotation, but after failing to make it through three innings, he walked off the hill with a dejected look and a future that could very well include a trip to the disabled list to start the season.

Its unclear whether Pineda had felt any problem with his shoulder before Friday, but he never mentioned anything to the team.

Im concerned, Girardi said. Anytime, I mean that can be the danger of when you have competitions, that maybe someone doesnt say something and theres something bothering them a little bit.

Pineda was emotional while speaking with reporters, appearing at times to be on the verge of tears. He pointed to some mechanical flaws that affected his command, but Pinedas mechanics are the least of his problems now that hes revealed a potential shoulder injury.

Asked if he felt he deserved to be in the rotation, Pineda shrugged his shoulders and said, I dont know; I dont have control of that situation.

Pinedas woes open the door for Freddy Garcia, who threw 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball in a minor-league game earlier in the day, to claim the final spot in the Yankees rotation.

Its very possible thats whats going to happen, Girardi said. Weve got to find out whats going on before we dis cuss this any further. We talk about you dont make decisions too early in camp because things have a way of working out sometimes.

While Pinedas situation threw a wrench in the plans for the No. 5 spot, the rest of the pieces of the Yankees rotation seem to be falling into place.

Girardi reshuffled his starters for the final week of spring training, potentially lining up CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda and Phil Hughes for the opening series against the Rays, followed by Ivan Nova, Garcia and Sabathia in Baltimore.

Pineda had pitched well this spring, posting a 3.31 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings over his first five starts. Still, his lack of velocity had remained a bit of a mystery, though the shoulder issue may now shed some light on the situation. Anytime a pitcher talks about his shoulder, I have concern, Cashman said. His velocity is down, so you put those two together, it definitely causes concern.

HIGH FIV E
Nick Swisher played five innings in right field in a minor-league game Friday, reporting no problems with his sore left groin. Swisher will take Saturday off, then likely start in right field Sunday night against the Marlins in Miami: I feel pretty good. I feel like Im almost ready to really take the chains off and just let it go. ... Dave Robertson threw two innings in a minor-league game Friday, his third outing since returning from a foot injury earlier this month. ... Yanks pounded old friend Jonathan Papelbon for four and three hits in two-thirds of an inning en route to 13-9 combeack win.