NEW YORK -- In a season during which the Yankees have been bitten considerably hard by the injury bug, they received some good news on Sunday, when manager Aaron Boone announced that right-handers Luis Severino and Dellin Betances -- both of whom are attempting to recover from right lat strains -- have been cleared to begin a throwing program Monday as part of their rehab process.

Betances had already been set to start throwing, while Severino was examined by team physician Chris Ahmad after Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays, undergoing a follow-up MRI to gain clearance as well.

“I’m excited about that,” Boone said. “Now it’s the steps of obviously getting built back up, getting into eventually long toss and flat ground and getting on a mound. And then you see where you are and from the scheduling and the time standpoint, but I feel like they’re in a good place to get going on this throwing program.”

According to Boone, both pitchers will stay with the big league club for this stage in their rehab process, as opposed to heading down to the Yankees’ Minor League complex in Tampa, Fla. Though Boone did admit that there could be a point in the process -- if they are ready for a rehab assignment or if they need to be on a mound facing live hitters -- when that plan could be adjusted.

Both pitchers have faced setbacks during their initial rehab stints -- a right shoulder bone spur for Betances and right rotator cuff inflammation for Severino -- suffering their respective lat strains after beginning to throw back in June and going on the 60-day injured list. But Boone seemed sure that there wouldn’t be any similar problems this time around.

“I think we’re confident with where they’re at as far as their recovery, and we feel like they’re in position to be ready to start this step,” Boone said. “Now, their feedback and how they feel and bounce back is always a major part of the evaluation in continuing to lay out the program. I think there’s kind of a protocol now that’s followed and they’re in position to graduate to this point.”

The Yankees are taking it one step at a time with both right-handers, letting their healing process play out as naturally as possible. Neither pitcher has taken the mound this season, after a 2018 in which Severino -- the ace of the staff -- went 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA in 191 1/3 innings pitched, and Betances -- a valuable bullpen arm -- managed a 2.70 ERA with 115 strikeouts in 66 appearances.

Given how vocal general manager Brian Cashman has been about the need to add starting pitching, the Yankees are certainly eager to have Severino back in the fold. Earlier this week, Cashman had mentioned a “six-or-more”-week timeline for Severino to be big league ready and even suggested the right-hander could be used as an abbreviated starter or bullpen arm. But Sunday, Boone clarified the team’s position on Severino’s status and role.

“I think we’re way too early in the process, and I think that was more of Brian responding to a question. ‘Is that possible?’ ‘Sure, that’s possible,’” Boone said. “I think there’s a number of things that are potentially on the table just based on how he progresses, what he gets to, and then we’ll see where we’re at as he builds himself up.”

“I look at it like, ‘What does it look like at the end of this week? Or, how is he responding? How does it feel when he goes out there? How is he bouncing back the next day?’ I haven’t begun to put a timeline on what it’s gonna take to have him built up to say being a starter for us, or any kind of option for us.”

Bronx Bombers?

During the first half of the season, the Yankees had set a Major League record by hitting a home run in 31 consecutive games. But Saturday, the Yanks’ batters were held homerless for the second straight game, and just the third time in their last 39 games.

Even Boone took notice of the uncharacteristic display from his typically explosive offense.
“I actually thought about that yesterday. Two days in a row -- wow. Hot days in the Bronx with our team too,” Boone said. “[It’s] a little odd, but obviously those kind of days are gonna happen. Hopefully we get back and put some in the seats today, but in 162 games, you’re gonna have games where you’re not always gonna do it -- even for our club where you obviously come to expect it day in and day out. It’s just one of those things.”

This date in Yankees history

July 14, 1957: In Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox, the Yankees came back from a 4-0 deficit in the ninth to win 6-4 thanks in part to a Moose Skowron pinch-hit grand slam and a Tommy Byrne solo homer.