The Yankees are getting a needed boost for the stretch run with the activation of Luis Gil from the injured list on Thursday ahead of the right-hander's start in Friday's opener against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Gil, who landed on the IL on Aug. 21 with a lower back strain, made one rehab start, striking out six over 3 2/3 innings of three-run ball for Double-A Somerset on Sunday. He threw 80 pitches (52 strikes) in the outing, his first game action since he exited an Aug. 20 start against Cleveland after three-plus innings with lower back discomfort.

"I watched it. It was OK. Stuff was good,” manager Aaron Boone said on Monday. “The swing-and-miss was there. Had a long first inning, threw like 38 pitches in the first inning, but I thought all in all, all right.”