Andy Pettitte threw four innings and 55 pain-free pitches in his latest simulated game this afternoon, two days after doctors gave him the okay to begin running again. “I’m ready,” said the left-hander to reporters after today’s workout. “Can I give you 100 pitches? No. But I feel my stuff has been crisp … Just let me go out there and compete.”

The Yankees have already indicated a willingness to bring Pettitte back before he’s fully stretched out, and the guess here is that he will start next Tuesday’s game (they’re off on Monday) with David Phelps piggybacking out of the bullpen. That would allow Andy to make four starts between now and the end of the season, including Game 162. My original thought was that they would let him throw in one more simulated game, but if it’s the difference between three regular season starts and four, forget it.

Doctors have cleared Andy Pettitte to begin running following yesterday’s checkup, a big obstacle in his return from a fractured left leg. The left-hander did some fielding drills today and will throw another simulated game tomorrow, unofficially his third. He threw three innings and 46 pitches over the weekend, so I assume he’ll ramp it up to 60-65 pitches next time out. Based on how things have been progressing, it seems that we could see Andy back on the mound in meaningful games within two weeks or so.

Via Joel Sherman, left-hander Andy Pettitte (fractured left leg) threw three innings and 46 pitches during his latest simulated game this afternoon. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild said it went “good, very good, super.” I suppose that’s a positive review.

Pettitte will getting checked out by the team doctors on Monday, and if all goes well he will start ramping up his workouts in advance of rejoining the team later this month. Rothschild said Andy will not make any minor league rehab starts — the Triple-A and Double-A clubs are the only affiliates still playing and they could be eliminated from the postseason as soon as this weekend — and instead do all his work in simulated games. I guess this means Pettitte could return to the rotation within two weeks, which would be neat.

For the first time since suffering a left leg fracture in late-June, left-hander Andy Pettitte faced hitters in a simulated game/live batting practice this afternoon. He threw 15 pitches in one “inning,” facing four hitters — Casey McGehee (twice), Eduardo Nunez, Chris Dickerson. From the look of it, Andy was throwing with full effort or at least very close to it. He did use an L-screen, if you care about such things.

Pitching coach Larry Rothschild told Sweeny Murti that Pettitte was “excellent” and that his arm strength is right where they expected it to be. He’ll face hitters again on Friday, presumably stretching it out to 30 or so pitches. Although Triple-A Empire State and Double-A Trenton are in the postseason, it sounds like Pettitte will do all of his rehab work in sim games these next few weeks. Just eye-balling the schedule, September 26th or 27th is the absolute latest Andy could return while still making two regular season starts in advance of a potential postseason series.

Via Meredith Marakovits and Marc Carig, left-hander Andy Pettitte threw 20 pitches off a mound today for the first time since having his left (push-off) leg fractured by a Casey Kotchman comebacker in late-June. He did not push-off at full strength, but he called it a “huge” step and felt fine afterwards. They’ll check back in with the doctor tomorrow and determine the next step.

Recent check-ups on Pettitte’s leg have been positive, and he’s been throwing off flat ground for a few weeks now. He’ll soon have to begin an “accelerated” program in order to rejoin the team in advance of a potential playoff series. The good news is that his arm is fine, but getting the legs back in shape will be a chore. Looking at the schedule, it appears that the absolute latest he could return to the team and still be able to make two regular season tune-up starts is September 27th.

Andy Pettitte‘s fractured left leg is healing well according to recent checkups, and he continues to throw with increased intensity off flat ground. Prior to this afternoon’s game, Joe Girardi said that the club hopes to get the veteran left-hander back on a mound this weekend so he can begin an aggressive rehab program that will have him ready in time for a potential postseason series.

“Whenever he does get on a mound, the process is probably going to have to be accelerated a little bit just because of the time frame,” said the skipper. The minor league regular season ends early next week, though Pettitte could make a few rehab starts during the Double-A postseason like he did in 2010. The absolute latest he could come off the DL while still getting making two regular season big league starts is September 29th, so one month from today. It’s starting to approach crunch time here.