Michael Pineda Injury: Yankees right-hander to undergo MRI

New York Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda isn't quite out of the woods just yet.

According to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, Pineda cut his simulated game short on Tuesday afternoon after feeling tightness in his right lat. Pineda will undergo an MRI, and manager Joe Girardi said that the right-hander is questionable for his scheduled start on Monday.

After Pineda was busted for using pine tar during his start against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, Major League Baseball suspended him for 10 games. However, because of the Yankees' off-day during the 10 games spanning Pineda's suspension, it initially appeared as though he would only miss one start.

Now, however, it looks like Pineda could be in for an even longer break from the mound if his MRI turns out unfavorably. According to Hoch's article, Girardi said he would continue to have David Phelps fill in for Pineda if the MRI indicates something more is wrong.

The news of Pineda's potential injury spells trouble for the Yankees, who are already without starter Ivan Nova after the right-hander's recent Tommy John surgery. With the inexperienced Vidal Nuno replacing Nova, the Yankees will certainly want to avoid having two emergency starters in the rotation, something that very well could happen should Pineda miss extended time.

At the very least, Pineda's shoulder appears to be okay. The right-hander missed all of the 2012 season after having surgery to repair a torn labrum, an injury that appears to be firmly in the past.

Pineda is 2-2 with a 1.83 ERA across 19.2 innings this season.