With Pineda, a tale of 2 pitchers

The Yankees will turn to Michael Pineda on Friday to stop a threegame losing streak and will wait to see which pitcher shows up: the one who struck out 16 in a dominant, seveninning performance against the Orioles on May 10 or the one who was smacked around for five runs and 10 hits — striking out just one — against the Royals on May 15.

Brian McCann, while not expecting another 16strikeout game, is confident Pineda’s last outing was just a bump in the road.

“He just didn’t have his normal stuff his last time out,” McCann said. “You either have your good stuff or you don’t and most of the time he does. In that Kansas City game, he wasn’t himself.”

McCann pointed to one main reason that was the case.

“The location of his slider was the biggest difference from some of his other starts,” McCann said. “But that’s to be expected when you make 32 starts.

“I think half the time you have your good stuff and the other half you have to make pitches with what you have. His stuff wasn’t as good. But that’s going to be expected when you start 32 times. It’s not going to be there every game.”

From Pineda’s perspective, the righthander said he is ready to rebound.

“I feel the same as I did two starts ago,” Pineda said. “Last time, I didn’t feel great. I’ve done my same routine. I just want to get back out there. Last time was not my day, but I feel strong.”

The Yankees should have whatever lingering questions remain about the severity of Jacoby Ellsbury’s right knee sprain answered Friday, when he’s examined by team physician Chris Ahmad in The Bronx.

Ellsbury hurt his knee during Tuesday’s loss in Washington when his cleat got caught during a swing. He walked and remained in the game — scoring from second on a Chris Young single — but the discomfort forced him our of the game.

After general manager Brian Cashman said he didn’t believe it was a longterm injury, manager Joe Girardi added the knee would not require surgery, but with it occurring to the outer part of the knee, Ellsbury said he would feel it doing lateral movements.

McCann managed to reach base three times Wednesday against the Nationals, but his one hit was a bunt single against the shift. He has just four homers in what is shaping up to be another disappointing season.

McCann, though, remains confident he can turn things around.

“The numbers aren’t there, I get that,” McCann said. “It’s about getting results and getting hardhit balls to fall. I feel like I’m hitting balls well and haven’t had a lot to show for it. There’s no doubt I’m hitting the ball better than last year.

Carlos Beltran’s slowfooted-ness in the outfield may have cost the outfielder on Wednesday, when he failed to catch up with a pop fly in foul territory, but he did extend his hitting streak to 11 games. He is 14for40 with two homers and eight RBIs in that stretch. … Mason Williams was promoted to TripleA Scranton/WilkesBarre. The 2010 fourthround pick was hitting .317 with no homers and 11 RBIs in 34 games at DoubleA Trenton.