Andy Pettitte (ankle) has been cleared to resume running and will throw a simulated game Wednesday.

They're both great signs of progress for the veteran left-hander, who has been on the shelf since late June because of a fractured ankle. Pettitte should be back in the Yankees' starting rotation by the end of the regular season if he continues to avoid setbacks.

Andy Pettitte (ankle) completed a successful 46-pitch simulated game Saturday.

Pettitte's next step will involve being cleared to resume full baseball activities. The Yankees have yet to set a timetable for his return, but we should know more after he's reevaluated Monday. If all goes as planned, Pettitte will rejoin the rotation for one or two starts before the end of the season.

Andy Pettitte (ankle) is scheduled to visit with a doctor Monday in hopes of being cleared to resume full baseball activities.

Pettitte will throw his second simulated game Saturday, and appears close to rejoining the Yankees. Once Pettitte receives medical clearance, we should have a more accurate timetable for his return to the starting rotation.

Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said Andy Pettitte (ankle) will throw another simulated game Saturday.

Good news. Pettitte threw 15 pitches to hitters Wednesday without incident and is ready to make the next step. The 40-year-old southpaw still needs to build up some arm strength, but the Bombers are hopeful that he'll be able to make a couple starts before the end of the regular season.

Andy Pettitte (ankle) threw 15 pitches to hitters Wednesday.

Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said that he was "excellent" and his arm strength was where he expected it to be. The 40-year-old southpaw is scheduled to throw to hitters again Friday as he continues to build up his arm strength. The Yankees are hoping he'll be able to make a couple of starts down the stretch.

Andy Pettitte (ankle) will face hitters on Wednesday.

It will be the first time he's done so since landing on the disabled list back in late June. With the minor league season drawing to a close, Pettitte will be forced to build his stamina back up through a series of simulated games.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Andy Pettitte (ankle) will throw a full bullpen session soon.

Pettitte threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Friday and felt fine a day later. "We'll go day by day, but it shouldn't be long, though," Girardi of the lefty throwing a full bullpen session. Pettitte is hoping to make a start or two late in the season.

Andy Pettitte (ankle) threw 20 pitches off a bullpen mound Friday.

The Yankees plan to have Andy Pettitte (ankle) begin throwing off a mound this weekend.

Pettitte hasn't had any setbacks throwing off flat ground, so he's ready to take the next step. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Wednesday that the veteran southpaw will be put on an "accelerated" program to prepare for the postseason. He will ideally return to make one or two starts in September.

Andy Pettitte (ankle) threw off flat ground Tuesday.

The next step calls for Pettitte to throw a bullpen session, which Yankees manager Joe Girardi is hopeful will take place on Friday or Saturday. His timetable is a bit of a moving target right now, but mid-September appears realistic.

Andy Pettitte (ankle) is scheduled to throw off flat ground again on Tuesday.

It's fair to say Pettitte heard good news during a checkup with Dr. Chris Ahmad on Monday. We'll likely have more clarity on the situation after Tuesday, but Yankees manager Joe Girardi is hoping he'll be ready to throw off a mound later this week. Barring any setbacks, the veteran southpaw should return at some point in September.

Andy Pettitte (ankle) threw 40 pitches on flat ground Saturday with no issues.

Pettitte is expected to increase his physical activity Monday, but has yet to be cleared for a bullpen session. Manager Joe Girardi said that Pettitte would need to appear in at least one major league game, and preferably more, before the Yankees would consider carrying him on their postseason roster.

Andy Pettitte (ankle) threw about 55 pitches on flat ground Wednesday with no issues.

Pettitte was encouraged, but he's not sure when he'll be cleared to throw from a mound. "I don't think they're going to let me get on a mound yet," Pettitte said. "I think probably just a little bit more pushing off, a few more pitches and stuff like that." The left-hander will have another game of catch Saturday.

Andy Pettitte (ankle) has not ruled out returning for another season in 2013.

Pettitte's return this season was a surprise, and it sounds like he still has the itch. "I figured coming in here that I would pitch this year and I would fully exhaust myself of whatever I had left in me as far as for baseball or whatever," Pettitte said. "And as of this moment right now, I want to pitch more right now than I did when I first came to the big leagues." Pettitte will discuss the matter with his family over the offseason before a decision is made. Boasting a 3.22 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in nine starts this year, the veteran lefty is on track to rejoin the Yanks' rotation next month.

Andy Pettitte (ankle) has been cleared to resume a throwing program.

An X-ray on Sunday confirmed no structural damage from his latest setback. The Yankees' current plan calls for Pettitte to resume throwing on flat ground before being cleared for a bullpen session next week. If all goes well, he could return in the first half of September.

Andy Pettitte (ankle) long-tossed Friday but is still not allowed to run.

It's not clear yet when he'll be able to throw from a mound, either, but that timetable should be clearer after his next X-ray, which will be performed before the Yankees' next road trip. Pettitte won't make it back until sometime next month.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Andy Pettitte's (ankle) recent setback cost him "a week to 10 days."

Pettitte pushed his rehab a little too hard late last month while the team was in Seattle, which has led to his ankle not healing as quickly as expected. "In Seattle it swelled up,'' Pettitte said. "I did a little too much in Seattle. Now I am laying low. I have to take it easy.'' The Yanks aren't sure when Pettitte will be able to throw from a mound and won't set a timetable for his return. It seems unlikely that he'll be ready at the beginning of September as originally hoped.

Andy Pettitte will receive another X-ray Sunday to determine how his left ankle has healed.

To this point, the ankle hasn't healed as quickly as hoped, partly because Pettitte has pushed things a little too hard during his rehab. The left-hander still fully expects to be back sometime in September, but a clearer timetable should be known following Sunday's exam.

Andy Pettitte (ankle) has resumed a throwing program.

Pettitte is working his way back from a minor setback, and recently threw from a distance of 60 feet, six inches. While he's moving in the right direction, he's still likely at least a month away from returning. His next step will involve being cleared for mound work.

X-rays taken on Andy Pettitte's left ankle revealed good news on Sunday.

"It looks good," Pettitte said. "It's healing up good. Doc said the break was about 50 percent closed up, so that's good. It was really good." Pettitte believes his time table remains the same after the results. New York has targeted September 1 for his return to the rotation. The 40-year-old left-hander posted a 3.22 ERA and 59/13 K/BB ratio in 58 2/3 innings prior to hitting the shelf.