NEW YORK -- The Yankees lauded their bullpen as one of their greatest strengths coming into this season, and manager Aaron Boone says that confidence has not been shaken despite a rough week.

"We understand that there's going to be pitfalls along the way," Boone said on Sunday. "Even in our most successful seasons, we're going to hit a bump in the road. A great reliever's going to give up an important home run or give up a game. Those things are going to happen in a great season, and we're equipped to handle that."

When right-hander Adam Ottavino surrendered a game-tying home run to the Mets' Wilson Ramos on Saturday, it marked the fourth consecutive game in which the Yanks' bullpen had coughed up a lead with six or fewer outs to go.

Entering Sunday, the Bombers' relievers owned an 11.37 ERA with eight home runs allowed in their last six games. Chad Green allowed five earned runs and four homers over his last two innings, while Ottavino had surrendered four earned runs over his previous three appearances.

"At the end of the day, we have great players and we believe in each other," Ottavino said. "I know that everybody will kind of get this out of their system and we'll get on a roll. It's like a snowball. Start small and we'll keep going and going and hopefully have a better streak going the other direction."

There is help on the way. Left-hander Zack Britton tossed from the bullpen mound on Sunday, his second time doing so since sustaining a left hamstring strain on Aug. 19. Britton could be activated as soon as Monday, according to Boone.

"That goes a long way in shoring up the back end," Boone said. "But nothing really changes as far as the confidence we have in these guys. We look forward to them going out and continuing to do their job the next time they get that opportunity."

Comeback trail
Giancarlo Stanton (left hamstring strain) continues to progress as he aims to rejoin the club. Stanton was placed on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 9, and the Yankees said at the time that Stanton would miss three to four weeks. Sunday marked exactly three weeks.

"He's still not all the way there," Boone said. "He's doing well with the progressions and stuff. He's not all the way out of the woods yet as far as the injury, but he is running at about 75 to 80 percent. Hitting and doing that stuff is not a problem. We just want to make sure we get to the finish line with the injury."

Gio Urshela (bone spur in right elbow) was out of the lineup for Sunday's first game, the fourth straight game he missed after aggravating the injury during the Atlanta series, but Boone said he expects Urshela to play in Game 2.

"It's possible that it is something that's been there for a while," Boone said. "He felt it on a swing in his last at-bat Atlanta; it was almost like a hyperextension feeling, but the symptoms have really dissipated a lot over the last couple of days. It doesn't seem to be a real concern at this point."

Kyle Higashioka (right oblique strain) could rejoin the active roster on Monday or Tuesday, Boone said. There has been no decision yet on whether the Yankees will carry three catchers; they would have to expose Erik Kratz to waivers if they attempt to option him to the alternate training site.

Hicks exits Game 2
Aaron Hicks was forced to exit Game 2 of Sunday’s doubleheader with cramping in both calves, but both the outfielder and Boone do not believe that the issue is significant. Boone checked on Hicks when he winced during a fifth-inning at-bat, then removed him for a pinch-runner, but said that he is “not too concerned.”

In the Yanks' 8-7 win in g Game 1 of the twin bill, Hicks hit a game-tying two-run dinger to force extra innings.

This date in Yankees history
Aug. 30, 1939: Yankees rookie right-hander Atley Donald participates in an experiment with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, throwing a fastball that is clocked at 94.7 mph by a speed meter. That slightly edged a previous record held by the Indians' Bob Feller.

Up next
Right-hander Gerrit Cole (4-1, 3.51 ERA) will be on the mound Monday at 7:05 p.m. ET as the Yankees open a three-game series with the Rays at Yankee Stadium. Right-hander Tyler Glasnow (1-1, 5.14 ERA) is scheduled to start for Tampa Bay.