It shouldn't come as much of a surprise but Joe Girardi acknowledged today that Michael Pineda, on the DL with shoulder tendinitis, probably will not return before the end of the month.

"I think that's safe to say,'' Girardi said. "It's already the sixth. It's gonna be pretty close.''

Pineda's DL stint is retroactive to March 31, which means he can come off on April 15. He played catch on Thursday and again this morning and according to Girardi, "felt better,'' but there is still no timetable for him to begin a serious throwing program.

Pineda will remain with the team for the series against the Rays, and then return to Tampa for extended spring training when the Yankees leave for next week's series in Baltimore.

"I think it can help because he can observe what goes on here in the next three days, to see what’s it like to be a Yankee,'' Girardi said. "Spring training was obviously different for him than what he was accustomed to and in the season it picks up a little more.''