Gerrit Cole played catch Friday, manager Aaron Boone said, but the for the right-hander is expected to come Saturday, when the Yankees ace is set to throw off a mound for the first time since he was shut down with elbow inflammation in March. Its a step, Boone said Friday before the Yankees opened a series against the Tigers in The Bronx. [The rehab has] gone well so far. The buildup and different levels of throwing, so far so good. [Throwing] off the mound is another step. As has been the case throughout Coles rehab, the Yankees have on when he could make his season debut, but a starting pitcher typically needs six to eight weeks to build up during spring training and that figures to be the case with Cole, since hes been sidelined for so long. Gerrit Cole is expected to throw off a mound on Saturday. Robert Sabo for NY Post And as Boone acknowledged, most starters enter camp having already been on a throwing program, which Cole is only Torii Hunter Jersey just beginning. The earliest Cole would be eligible to be activated off the 60-day injured list is May 27, but mid-June or July seems a more reasonable timeline. Explore More The Yankees have so far survived Coles absence quite well. Their rotation entered eighth in the majors in ERA (3.48) and fourth in innings pitched. Gerrit Cole has been on the injured list since spring training. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST Jon Berti, who , could return to the lineup on Saturday from a left groin strain, according to Boone. He finished a rehab a signment with Double-A Somerset on Thursday and worked out at the Stadium on Friday. Got some at-bats and my timing back, so hopefully that translates here, Berti said. Boone said he plans on using Berti not just at third base, where hes played all six of his games as a Yankee, but potentially as a fill-in at shortstop or in the outfield. Jon Berti has been on the IL since mid-April. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Hes coming off a really strong year, Boone said of Berti, acquired from the Marlins in March as part of a three-team trade with Tampa Bay in which the Yankees sent Ben Rortvedt to the Rays and minor league outfielder John Cruz to Miami. [Berti] brings some speed to the game and a real defensive versatility thats always welcome, Boone said. Hell play. Without Berti, Oswaldo Cabrera has been the regular third baseman and after a strong start to the season, has been one of several Yankees who have gone into a rut. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! He entered Friday just 9-for-49 in his previous 13 games with an OPS of .461 in that span. Cabreras went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Fridays victory. And DJ LeMahieu (foot) did some baseball activities at the Stadium on Friday, but Boone noted that he hasnt begun hitting yet since suffering a setback in his recovery. Since LeMahieu has been out all season, except for an abbreviated rehab appearance nearly two weeks ago, Boone said its unclear how many rehab games he will need before he makes his season debut. A pair of right-handers are trending toward returning to the bullpen, with Nick Burdi (hip) set to pitch in a rehab game for Somerset on Sunday and Tommy Kahnle (shoulder inflammation) in line to face live hitters over the weekend, with a rehab stint to begin as soon as next week. Cole Sands Jersey