BOSTON — It’s almost getting real for Carlos Rodon.
The Yankees left-hander, who has yet to make his debut because of a forearm muscle strain and back discomfort, is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Double-A Somerset.
Rodon will likely need three rehab starts, according to manager Aaron Boone, before pitching his first game since he signed a six-year, $162 million contract last offseason. If he does not experience any setbacks during his rehab assignment, Rodon’s first Yankees start could come in the first week of July.
“He would probably be three [innings] and 45ish [pitches] in this first one coming up on Tuesday,” Boone said before the Yankees’ 15-5 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park. “After that, you’re talking 55-65. That would put him in position, with normal increments, to probably be around 70-75 pitches with us on that fourth one.”
Rodon threw a third live batting practice session of two simulated innings and 36 pitches Thursday at Somerset. The session went down without any issues, according to Boone.
His potential debut would be a welcome addition for the Yankees, who are using a four-man rotation with Nestor Cortes also on the injured list with a shoulder strain.
They will need a fifth starter by June 24 — or earlier if the weather messes with their game Saturday.
Cortes could begin playing catch on Sunday, Boone said. He has been shut down since receiving a cortisone injection in his shoulder on June 6.
Anthony Volpe went 1-for-2 with two walks, his first multi-walk game since April 26.
After he drew multiple walks five times in his first 25 games, Volpe had not done so at all over his last 44 games, with just six total walks in that stretch.
Josh Donaldson recorded his first single since Opening Day with a knock to right field in the fourth inning.
In between (including a 52-game stint on the IL for a strained hamstring), all five of his hits had been home runs.
He added another solo homer in the eighth inning Friday.
Joe Jacques, the Red Bank (N.J.) Regional High School grad and Manhattan walk-on, recorded his first career win after tossing two innings for the Red Sox and giving up three runs in relief of Tanner Houck, who took a line drive to the face in the fifth inning.
Ian Hamilton (strained groin), who also threw a live batting practice session on Thursday in Somerset, will pitch again on Sunday, which could be the beginning of his own rehab assignment.
The reliever is only expected to need a handful of rehab appearances before rejoining the Yankees.
Jonathan Loaisiga, who had surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow on May 2, began a throwing program on Monday that Boone said was “going well here early.”
That would put his potential return around late July or early August, depending on how he progresses.
The forecast Saturday calls for steady rain all day, threatening to postpone the second game of the series.
If that happens, Boone said he has heard it could be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday.