#Gerrit Cole, Jordan Montgomery to rejoin Yankees’ rotation soon

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Gerrit Cole and Jordan Montgomery could be back in the rotation early next week, according to manager Aaron Boone.

Both starters are set to come off the COVID-19 IL this weekend in Chicago and if their bullpen sessions go well, they could pitch as soon as Monday, when the Yankees will play a makeup game against the Angels in The Bronx. A doubleheader against the Red Sox follows on Tuesday, so the Yankees will need plenty of depth after Jameson Taillon and Nestor Cortes are set to go Saturday and Sunday in Chicago.

Luis Severino is scheduled to make a final rehab start Friday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, so he should be able to make his first start for the Yankees since the 2019 ALCS at some point next week, as well.

“The guys we’re missing right now are large pieces and you can start dreaming on getting some really impactful players back to fortify us for the stretch run,” Boone said before the Yankees’ 5-2 win over the Royals on Wednesday.

Asked if Corey Kluber could be part of that mix in September, with the right-hander set to make his first rehab start Thursday, for Double-A Somerset, after being sidelined since May with a strained shoulder, Boone said, “We’ll see if he’s able to get through and bounce back.”

Boone added he was “definitely hopeful” Kluber would be back at some point next month.

Clarke Schmidt is closer to returning from an elbow strain that has sidelined him since spring training. He made a rehab start for Somerset on Wednesday and allowed a pair of solo homers in 3 ²/₃ innings. Afterwards, he was reinstated from the 60-day IL and optioned to Triple-A.

---

Gio Urshela (hamstring) did not take part in any baseball activities for two days after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection, Boone said.

He was scheduled to increase his workload Wednesday after suffering a setback in his recovery from a strained left hamstring.

---

Gleyber Torres (sprained thumb) needs to be pain free before he can begin baseball activities. … Prospect Oswald Peraza, as well as Estevan Florial, are expected to join the taxi squad Thursday in Iowa for the Field of Dreams game. Peraza, 21, is one of the organization’s top prospects and could be called upon if there’s another injury to an infielder. … Boone said he was unsure if Chapman (left elbow inflammation) would be able to rejoin the bullpen when he’s eligible.

---

Boone continued to defend Joey Gallo in the midst of his miserable start with the Yankees.

“If you watch the at-bats, it’s not a guy that’s struggling,’’ Boone said before Gallo hit cleanup Wednesday and went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks and scored a run. “I feel he’s on time for the most part and getting off a good swing.”

Boone said Gallo “has probably had a couple he’s fouled off that he was right on. … That happens from time-to-time with everyone.”

Since being acquired from the Rangers at the trade deadline, Gallo is 7-for-47, with four doubles, a homer, three RBIs and 10 walks, to go along with a whopping 22 strikeouts.

The numbers were even worse in Gallo’s last six games, in which he went 2-for-20, with no extra-base hits, six walks and 11 strikeouts.