Betances has sights set on June return

BALTIMORE — Dellin Betances won’t exactly know when he will be off the injured list until he starts throwing off a mound, but the righthanded reliever has an eye on June.

“I hope so. I think I can be back [in] June,” Betances said after playing catch on flat ground from 105 feet before Monday night’s 10-7 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards. “Once I get off the mound, speed it up.’’

On Tuesday, Betances is scheduled to make 25 throws at 60 feet, 15 at 90 and 10 at 105.

Betances is coming back from a right shoulder impingement that forced him to start the season on the IL and the Yankees are in the process of making sure the area is built up before giving the four-time AllStar and free agent-to-be a timetable when he will throw off a mound.

“I think they are trying to build arm strength. I never got that in spring training,’’ said Betances, who also had to be shut down due to a bone spur in the shoulder. “It took longer and obviously I had a setback. Right now it feels good. Obviously, throwing off a mound is a big test, flat ground has been good.’’

One month after leaving an April 20 game with a strained left oblique, Aaron Judge did some work on the field Monday. “He did some things as far as running and stuff. I know he has played catch. No hitting or anything yet,’’ Aaron Boone said. “Feel good about where he is at and he is definitely coming but as far as a timetable he hasn’t started hitting yet. When he starts swinging the bat and hitting we are going to know the injury is out of there and moved on. He has made steady progress but not at that point yet.’’

Masahiro Tanaka will throw a bullpen session Tuesday. The Yankees will then decide whether the lower right leg where he was hit with a line drive Saturday will allow him to start here Thursday.

James Paxton played catch Monday and is slated for a bullpen session Tuesday to test his inflamed right knee that landed him on the IL on May 4.