Michael Pineda to undergo MRI on his back

Just when Michael Pineda thought he had finally turned things around in 2014, the last two weeks or so just have not gone his way.

First he went viral for having pine tar on his pitching hand. In the end that was no big deal. Then he got ejected and suspended 10 games for having pine tar on his neck in a start last week. That was a bigger deal, and now Pineda might be adding a back injury to his list of troubles.

According to Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com, Pineda removed himself from a simulated game on Tuesday because of a sore back muscle and will now undergo an MRI.

"Girardi said Pineda was undergoing an MRI in Tampa and expected the results to be available later Tuesday night. If Pineda is injured seriously enough to require being placed on the disabled list, it was unclear if the Yankees would be able to add a player to the major-league roster; currently, they are playing a man short since they were not allowed to replace Pineda while he is under suspension.”"

Matthews also notes that Girardi took comfort in the fact that Pineda did not re-injure his shoulder, the injury that kept him out for the entire 2013 season. Pineda is very unlikely to start against the Los Angeles Angels Monday, which would have been his first turn after serving his suspension.

Pineda has enjoyed a career renaissance thus far in 2014; he and the Yankees both will hope that this is nothing more than a minor hitch in his season.