Yanks encouraged by Hughes' session

BALTIMORE -- Phil Hughes feels ready. Not necessarily to return to a big-league mound, but to take the step that would precede that.

Hughes threw 90 pitches in a bullpen session Saturday. "The plan is right now I'll start a minor-league game in five days,'' he said.

Manager Joe Girardi said nothing for certain has been determined but that all appeared to go well. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild thought Hughes, on the disabled list since April 15 as he attempts to strengthen his arm, got stronger as the session went on, which encouraged Girardi.

"He had a good session today,'' Girardi said. "Larry felt he got stronger, and that's not what we saw his last start [April 14], so it seems this time has been beneficial. He'll do another long toss on Monday; then we'll make a decision after that.''

Hughes is looking forward to getting back on a mound and, he hopes, showing he's rediscovered the velocity that he's been missing throughout spring training and his first three starts.

"It feels better for sure, but it's hard to say until you get in a game situation,'' Hughes said. "That's going to be the real sign of how you're doing.''

Lining it up

Girardi said Freddy Garcia will start Sunday, followed by A.J. Burnett Monday against the White Sox, Ivan Nova and Bartolo Colon. "As much as we can, we're trying to keep guys on schedule,'' he said. "But two days off and a rainout, it's nearly impossible.''

Good debut

Kevin Millwood made his first start for Scranton, allowing two runs and seven hits in seven innings in a 4-2 victory over Syracuse. Millwood has a May 1 opt-out in his deal if he's not on the major-league roster.