#Pitcher Luis Severino nearing return to Yankees rotation

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — While the Yankees’ rotation is nearly unrecognizable right now, with Gerrit Cole and Jordan Montgomery on the COVID-19 injured list and Domingo German out with shoulder inflammation, they may be closer to getting some reinforcements.

Luis Severino may be back in the rotation after one more rehab outing, Aaron Boone said Monday. And Corey Kluber, out with a strained right shoulder since May, is set to make his first rehab start with Double-A Somerset on Thursday.

Severino threw four perfect innings in a rehab start for Somerset on Sunday. He struck out 5 of the 12 batters he faced, requiring only 48 pitches, part of a combined no-hitter.

Boone called it a “great sign” and that Severino would start again in the minors on Friday — and potentially with the Yankees following that outing.

“Get him built up more and then we’ll probably have a decision in front of us, whether he takes another [rehab start] or at that point is with us. He’s certainly getting close.”

Boone watched video of the outing on Monday and said Severino “looks and feels really good … what stood out to me was the confidence and energy he was pitching with. He feels good and is ready to go.”

Boone added Severino’s stuff was better than his previous start, throwing in the mid- to upper-90s.

“Just the way he got after it, his stuff is good, but the energy he’s out there with, he’s feeling good,’’ Boone said.

Kluber hasn’t pitched in a game since leaving a start on May 25 after three innings — one outing after he threw a no-hitter in Texas.

The Yankees have said they expect the 35-year-old back in September and he’ll need to be built up before he rejoins the rotation.

Since the Yankees had another COVID-19 outbreak following their previous road trip, Tuesday’s scheduled starter, Nestor Cortes Jr., was asked the level of concern with the Yankees on the road again.

“You always worry,’’ Cortes said. “I had it [about] a month ago. It lasted for three or four days and I got over it. Hopefully these guys can do the same.”

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Boone said he was upset with the balk rule that was called on Jonathan Loaisiga in the seventh inning of the Yankees’ wild, 8-6, 11-inning win over the Royals on Monday night.

“I just felt he rolled into it, right into his step-off,’’ Boone said of the call. “I was a little frustrated the inning before. It was probably something I shouldn’t have done.”

Boone was ejected for arguing the call.

In the top of the inning, the Yankees challenged when Aaron Judge was called out at the plate. Boone said the Yankees weren’t sure about the call, but because it was the seventh inning, they took a shot.

Ultimately, Boone said he thought the replay call of Judge being out was correct.

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Brett Gardner hit leadoff against right-hander Carlos Hernandez Monday, with Boone saying he wanted to balance out the lineup and provide “traffic” for DJ LeMahieu, who was placed in the No. 5 spot. LeMahieu had reached base multiple times in four of his previous six games. Gardner was 2-for-4 with two RBIs while LeMahieu was 2-for-5 with an RBI double and a triple.

Right-hander Nick Nelson was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after Sunday’s starter Luis Gil, was sent back down.

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Boone said he’s already looking forward to Thursday’s “Field of Dreams” game against the White Sox in Iowa.

“I think it’s gonna be really cool,’’ Boone said.