Luis Gil could make Yankees return after minimum IL stint

WASHINGTON — Luis Gil is on the mend, and might not miss much more time — if any — than the minimum 15 days on the injured list

The Yankees right-hander, sidelined by a lower-back strain after his last start on Tuesday , threw a bullpen session Sunday after a few days of rest and treatment appear to have gotten him back on track.

As of Monday, the Yankees were still deciding whether Gil’s next step would be a live batting practice session or a rehab start.

But asked if it was realistic Gil could just miss the minimum 15 days — he is eligible to come back on Sept. 5 at the earliest — manager Aaron Boone said it was “possible.”

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“Just as the trainers treated him, they felt pretty good that the bullpen would be in play,” Boone said before opening a series against the Nationals. “Sure enough it was. I think it was just the significant improvement they saw from [the] jump.”

As least for now, the Yankees are still planning on bringing Gil back as a starter.

He has already blown past his career-high in innings, currently sitting at 124 ²/₃, so if nothing else the IL stint gives him a breather while the club uses Will Warren in his place.

The Yankees also have Clarke Schmidt inching closer to a return.

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The right-hander, coming back from a lat strain, is set to make his second rehab start Wednesday, after which it’s possible he could be ready to be activated.

If both Gil and Schmidt come back healthy, the Yankees will have a decision to make on which of their starters gets dropped from the rotation, though they have at least another week before they would have to make that call.

For the 10th straight game — six of them coming against left-handed starters — Gleyber Torres batted leadoff.

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On Monday, it was against Nationals lefty Mitchell Parker and Torres delivered a leadoff home run as he went 2-for-5.

Torres, who has now reached base in 21 straight games, further strengthened his grip on the leadoff spot — which may continue against righties, too.

“I would love for that to be the case, because then once we get to another right-handed pitcher, if we ever see one again — we’re supposed to see three with the Cardinals [this weekend] — then you can right-left-right [Torres, Juan Soto, Aaron Judge], [Austin] Wells in the four-hole,” Boone said. “So you get that right-left balance as opposed to going three out of four lefties right out of the chute and then you know you’re getting that left-handed specialist maybe a third time through. I’m loving his at-bat quality. He’s certainly capable of being that guy, so hopefully it’ll continue.”

The Yankees claimed speedy outfielder Duke Ellis off waivers from the Mariners on Monday and transferred Ian Hamilton to the 60-day IL, which was merely a formality.

Hamilton, who is eligible to come off the 60-day IL at any time, is scheduled to make his second rehab appearance on Tuesday.

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